Spanish Police Seize Ancient Jewelry Worth $64M Taken From Ukraine

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Facts

  • Spanish police have recovered 11 pieces of ancient gold jewelry that were taken out of Ukraine illegally in 2016. Five people were caught when they attempted to sell the artifacts in Spain — including two Ukrainians, one of whom is an Orthodox Church priest — and three Spaniards.1
  • The stolen jewelry dates from the 8th and 4th centuries BC. The items disappeared after being briefly exhibited at a museum in Kyiv between 2009 and 2013 and are a part of Ukraine's national heritage, according to the Madrid National Police.2
  • According to authorities, the artifacts had fake documentation to make it appear as though they belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.3
  • A pan-European police effort resulted in the recovery of the antiquities, which are valued at €60M. The investigation was assisted by authorities in Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and North Macedonia.4
  • The artifacts are currently being examined by Spain's Cultural Heritage Institute as well as its National Archeological Museum.5
  • The Scythians, whom the jewelry can be traced to, were a nomadic people who ruled over a large portion of what is now southern Ukraine, as well as eastern Europe and Asia. They were well known for their metalworking prowess, especially when it came to creating intricate gold jewelry.6

Sources: 1Al Jazeera, 2Associated Press, 3Reuters, 4DW, 5Huffington Post and 6Kyiv Post.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Kyiv Post. Since the conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014, international and Ukrainian authorities have been concerned about the protection of historical objects kept in museums and religious institutions controlled by Russia. Numerous items have been taken and illegally smuggled out of the country and this is the second seizure of stolen archeological artifacts recovered in a week. This is a concerning trend.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Horizon Magazine. There are systems to combat the trafficking of cultural goods, which is the third-largest form of illicit trade in the world. The International Council of Museums has now added Ukraine to its Red List of the world's looting hotspots in an effort to tackle this issue. The recovery of the artifacts in Spain was the result of a joint effort between Europol and Interpol — the uptick of this activity in light of the Ukraine-Russia war can be addressed.