Crimean Peninsula. The destruction of the cultural heritage and identity of local communities, alteration of the status of Ukrainian property, its expropriation or destruction can be qualified as war crimes - Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Crimean Peninsula. The destruction of the cultural heritage and identity of local communities, alteration of the status of Ukrainian property, its expropriation or destruction can be qualified as war crimes

17.02.2021

From open sources the Mission became aware of the illegal appropriation of a monument of architecture of local significance “Villa Dream”, in the temporarily occupied territory of the Crimea Autonomous Republic of Crimeahttps://cutt.ly/5jdkAzR ..

In addition, the procurement № 0175200000418000670 for illegal restoration and emergency works of the architectural monument “Villa Ksenia” was identified on the official website of the Unified Procurement Information System of the Russian Federation, which may lead to its damage and destruction: https://cutt.ly/8jcgjfR .

The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the AR of Crimea constantly monitors the situation with the preservation of the cultural heritage of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied AR of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

Furthermore, the Mission persistently draws attention of the international community to the ongoing illegal usage of the Ukrainian protected site Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora, which are the historical and archeological heritage of both Ukraine and the world, included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The illegal use of the Tauric Chersonese territory by the Russian occupying authorities is now becoming more acute. For instance, illegal archeological excavations, carried out by Russian citizens and illegal actions by the occupying power aimed at beatification of the territory of Chersonese destruct the authenticity of the site of world cultural heritage.

The information was analyzed by the Mission and submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. As the result, the above-mentioned facts were added to the criminal proceedings on war crimes against cultural heritage sites, particularly on damage and destruction of historical and cultural sites in the cause of illegal architectural works etc.

More information:

“Valla “Maria” (V.A. Chuikevych), built in 1913, location: Ukraine, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Yalta ( Simeiz village council), 64 Sovetska Street. By the order of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine dated 22 November 2012 № 1364 it is included to the State Register of Immovable (Tangible) Monuments of Ukraine, protection number: 4817-AR.

“Villa “Ksenia”, built in 1906, location: Ukraine, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Yalta (Simeiz village council), 64 Sovetska Street. By the order of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine dated 22 November 2012 № 1364 it is included to the State Register of Immovable (Tangible) Monuments of Ukraine, protection number: 4818-AR.

Ministry of Culture and Informational Policy of Ukraine