Ukraine asks Serbia to provide official data on seized archeological collection

The Embassy of Ukraine in Belgrade requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia to provide official data on the large archaeological collection seized by customs.

Oleh Nikolenko, Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine confirmed in a commentary to Ukrinform that a truck with more than 2,000 antiques had been detained at the Srpska Crnja border crossing point on December 29.

"According to available information, the vehicle was carrying artefacts from Ukraine. After receiving information about the detention of the truck, the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgrade sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia with a request to provide official data on the seized items," Nikolenko said.

He added that Ukrainian diplomats also cooperate with Serbian law enforcement to clarify all the circumstances of the case.

Nikolenko assured that the case is under the control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Serbia.

On the night of December 29, Serbian customs officers found 2,113 antiques of various periods – the Bronze Age, the Byzantine period, the Middle Ages, artefacts of ancient Slavs and Celts – in a truck with Romanian license plates. The collection mostly consists of pendants, rings, tools and weapons. Bracelets, brooches, pins, spearheads, arrows, axes, maces, spoons, keys, buttons and coins were also found in the truck.

The Ministry of Finance notes that it is impossible to determine the value of the collection without an expert evaluation.

According to a driver, a 46-year-old Serbian citizen, he agreed to deliver the collection from Ukraine to Serbia for a small fee. He was to be contacted upon arrival in Serbia.

Photo credit: carina.rs

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