Ukraine hired Spanish lawyers to return Scythian gold: details of the case

According to glavcom.ua: The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has signed an agreement with the Spanish law firm 'Clifford Chance S.L.P.' for 40,000 euros regarding legal services in the case of returning the Scythian gold, illegally exported from Ukraine. The lawyers will prepare documents, conduct examinations, and represent the state's interests in court in Madrid.

The procurement was carried out without bidding, which is allowed by law for services related to the protection of the rights and interests of Ukraine. The initiative of the Ministry of Culture to return the Scythian gold was supported by the Bureau of Economic Security and the National Police of Ukraine, which are conducting a criminal proceeding regarding the illegal transfer of cultural valuables abroad.

The subject of the pre-trial investigation includes 11 items of material culture that possess artistic, historical, and scientific value and relate to the Scythian gold. They were illegally moved abroad, concealed from customs control for further legalization and sale in the EU.

The Spanish firm 'Clifford Chance S.L.P.' will participate in court procedures, as well as ensure the submission of documents and conduct examinations to confirm the authenticity of cultural valuables. The lawyers' fees will be 550 euros/hour, while the expert evaluation services will cost 12,500 euros, and the presentation of the report will cost 2,500 euros.

There were 565 antiquities in Ukraine, which were exported from Crimea to the EU in 2013 for exhibition in private European museums.

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has agreed with the Spanish law firm to provide legal services for the return of the Scythian gold that was illegally exported from the country. This became possible thanks to the joint actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Bureau of Economic Security, which are investigating criminal cases in this area. We hope that this will pave the way for the further return of Ukrainian cultural values that have ended up abroad.