“Director" of Crimean museum served in absentia notice of suspicion over theft of nearly 11,000 exhibits from Kherson - official
The so-called director of the Central Museum of Taurida in Crimea, who organized the removal of exhibits from the Kherson Art Museum, has been served an in absentia notice of suspicion by Ukrainian law enforcement, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said.
"The key participant in the large-scale looting of the collections of the Kherson Art Museum named after O.O. Shovkunenko turned out to be the so-called director of the Central Museum of Taurida in Crimea," prosecutor general said on Telegram on Wednesday.
According to him, in autumn 2022 the suspect, acting on orders from Russia’s military and political leadership, personally selected, organized the packing and removal of museum items that are the property of Ukraine.
"He acted together with the so-called minister of culture of Kherson region, his deputy and the ‘director’ of the Kherson museum," Kravchenko said.
According to the prosecutor general, nearly 11,000 exhibits were effectively stolen from the museum’s 14,000-item collection that existed before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The suspect’s actions were classified under part 2 of article 28 and part 1 of article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - violation of the laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.
"The issue of placing him on a wanted list is being resolved," Kravchenko said.
The suspect’s accomplices were served notices of suspicion earlier.
"Russia is systematically stealing Ukraine’s artistic heritage. These are not random facts or ‘evacuation’ for preservation purposes, but a deliberate policy at the state level. These crimes will not go unpunished. Those who think they can hide abroad are mistaken," the prosecutor general said.
Kravchenko also said that the extradition to Ukraine of Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, who publicly "legitimized" the looting and destruction of Ukrainian cultural valuables, is currently pending following a decision by a Polish court.
