Ancient gold artifacts from Crimea that were exhibited abroad should be returned to Ukraine and not in Crimeashe was attached by Russia in 2014, ruled today Supreme Court of the Netherlandsending the litigation for them treasures them.

More than a thousand objects, including a Scythian gold helmet and a Crimean gold necklace, were on loan to Amsterdam’s Allard Pearson museum when Russia annexed the peninsula.

When the exhibition ended, both Ukraine and museums on the peninsula now controlled by Russia said they had rights to the treasure and claimed it. In doubt about what to do, the Dutch museum kept the objects in its warehouses, pending the decision of the courts.

“This decision ends the controversy. The Allard Pearson Museum must return these art treasures to the state of Ukraine and not to Crimean museums,” the court said, upholding a lower court’s 2021 verdict.

The museums that loaned the works argued that the terms of the loan were violated and that the archaeological treasures found on Crimean territory belong there, regardless of political affiliation. Ukraine, which considers Crimea its territory, has argued that the works are part of its heritage and must be preserved during the war with Russia.

The United Nations, the European Union and the Netherlands recognize Ukraine’s “territorial integrity” on the 2014 border, before the annexation of Crimea.

Lower courts ruled in 2016 and 2021 that the items should be returned to the Ukrainian state. The Court of Appeal’s decision in 2021 stated that by order of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine the works would be kept in the National Historical Museum in Kyiv “until the situation in Crimea is stabilized.”

The Allard Pearson museum said it can now hand over the works to Ukraine, complying with the Supreme Court ruling.