On 20 December 2018 a round table discussion on topic “Violation of humanitarian law on protection of cultural heritage in the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea: searching for international legal solutions” has been held at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine.

The participants discussed the issues regarding the introduction of the efficient mechanisms on implementation of the state cultural heritage control in the temporarily occupied territory in order to provide the comprehensive, coherent and coordinated interaction between the governmental authorities and civil society associations to protect the cultural property in the TOT of Crimea.

The officials of the Mission noted the current activity in monitoring and responding to the negative impact of the occupying authorities on condition of the cultural and historic heritage in Crimea. The officials informed about the Mission’s work on sanctions to be applied against the individuals and entities, providing the illegal archeological explorations and exporting the cultural property from the TOT of Ukraine in Crimea. The need to create the unified registry of cultural and historical sites of Crimea to strengthen the position of Ukraine in the international level was emphasized.

The round table resulted in the recommendations to be developed.