UNESCO Releases Report on Follow-up of Situation in Crimea

The report of the UNESCO Director-General on the follow-up of the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, currently occupied by Russia, will be considered during the 212th session of the UNESCO Executive Board this October. The information provided by the Ukrainian side is included in the document in full.

This report has already been published on the official UNESCO website.

In particular, it mentions the state of conservation of the World Heritage property “Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora,” and reminds of the call “to refrain from any action that would cause damages” to this site. There is also information about Russia‘s carrying out “restoration works” in the territory of the site and “destructive” events held for religious and entertainment purposes.

The report also highlights the works at the Bakhchisaray Palace of the Crimean Khans that “pose a real threat of destroying the historical and cultural value of the monument.”

“The Russian occupation of Crimea has changed the perception of Ukraine’s historical and cultural heritage, both by the state and society. Russia has appropriated Ukrainian cultural property on the peninsula, including 4,095 national and local monuments under state protection. Appropriation of monuments is in itself a violation of international law,” the report reads.

In July, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy considered the situation around the protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage in Crimea. It was recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine “form an official position of the state under the elements of ‘policy of non-recognition’ over damage and destruction of cultural heritage of Ukraine in Crimea, illegal transfer of cultural property of Ukraine outside the peninsula.”

Bohdan Marusyak