Return of Scythian artifacts taken from Crimea to Russia was advocated

The return to Russia of Scythian-era artifacts removed from museums in Crimea and exhibited in the Netherlands was advocated. The collection was discussed in an exhibition project presented by the Hermitage Museum at the International United Cultures Forum in Russia.

Scraper SystemSeptember 24, 2026, 10:52 AM

Return of Scythian artifacts taken from Crimea to Russia was advocated

The view that the Scythian collection originating in Crimea and exhibited in the Netherlands would return to Russia featured prominently in a Hermitage Museum project presented at the International United Cultures Forum in Russia.

The project, titled "Indivisible: Windows of Memory," was prepared in line with the views of Hermitage Museum Director Mikhail Piotrovsky. It addressed the collection's history as well as the legal status of the artifacts.

Scythian artifacts exhibited in Amsterdam

More than 2,000 Scythian-era artifacts associated with museums in Crimea were sent to the Netherlands in February 2014. The collection was displayed to visitors at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam.

The dispute over whether the artifacts belonged to Crimea or another country turned into an international legal and ownership controversy when the collection was kept in the Netherlands after the exhibition ended.

The project examined Crimea's historical connections

The Hermitage project also examined the economic and cultural ties that the Scythian world in Crimea established with ancient civilizations. Gold ornaments commissioned by the Scythians from Greek artisans, along with objects for everyday use, were among the collection's prominent pieces.

The study also addressed the preservation of archaeological artifacts in Crimea, excavation activities and discussions about the future of the collections. The statement that the artifacts would return to Russia was presented as a political and cultural assessment, not as the outcome of the ongoing legal process.

Return of Scythian artifacts taken from Crimea to Russia was advocated