Yesterday, the Mission, in cooperation with the Treasury of the National Museum of History of Ukraine and with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, organized an event for diplomats to screen the documentary film The True History of Crimea by Akim Galimov. The event was attended by Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Natalka Cmoc, Ambassador of Indonesia Mr. Arief Muhammad Basalamah, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Mr. Seymur Gurban oglu Mardaliyev, Deputy Head of European Union Delegation to Ukraine Mr. Rémi Duflot and other members of the diplomatic corps, including representatives of Turkey, Albania, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Indonesia, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

The participants joined the tour of the exhibition Treasures of Crimea. The Return and attended a screening of the shortened version of the documentary The True History of Crimea by Akim Galimov. The film’s purpose is to familiarize viewers with the true history of Crimea and explain how Russian propaganda and colonialist policies destroyed the identity and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Ukraine.

The exhibition Treasures of Crimea. The Return includes 565 exhibits and more than 2000 museum objects from Crimean museums. During the occupation of Crimea by Russia, these exhibits were in Amsterdam. For almost ten years, our country has been trying to return them, and a year ago, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands decided to transfer the exhibition collection to Ukraine. The return of the exhibits took place thanks to the joint efforts of international and Ukrainian lawyers, representatives of state authorities, and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ukraine.

During the exhibition, the diplomats were treated to various monuments from Scythian and Sarmatian cultures, including the famous Scythian Gold, ancient sculptures, dishes, and household items. These items provided a rich tapestry of the peoples who inhabited Crimea in different eras.

Fedir Androshchuk, Director General of the National Museum of History of Ukraine, Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva, Rémi Duflot, Deputy Head of European Union Delegation to Ukraine, and the film producer Hanna Yurlovska made the opening remarks.

Notably, the Permanent Representative stated:

Telling the truth about what is happening in Crimea, debunking Russia’s false narratives about Crimea and its belonging, is the primary goal of creating such projects that we must bring to the countries of the world.

The exhibition and documentary screening were followed by a discussion with the film’s producer, Hanna Yurlovska, historian Oleksii Savchenko, and Crimean researcher and historian Hulnara Abdulaieva.