Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to issue an appeal to protect Lesya Ukrainka Museum in Crimea
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine intends to submit an appeal to international organizations for the immediate reopening of the Lesya Ukrainka Museum in Yalta, which was recently closed by Russian-Crimean authorities, as reported by Krym.Realii.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the closing of the Museum is “a continuation of the aggressive policy of the Kremlin in relation to the history and culture of the Ukrainian people.”
"It is obvious that the Kremlin's true intention is a complete cessation of the activities of the museum, which was created by the efforts of the Ukrainian community of the Crimea and became one of the main centers of science and education, aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture and strengthening the national identity of Ukrainians in Crimea,” the Ministry of Culture Ukraine’s statement read.
The internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in March of 2014 in the wake of the Ukrainian revolution. The Kremlin has faced international condemnation for its annexation of the Peninsula, leading many western countries to impose economic sanctions against Russia. In the United Nations, only Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Syria recognize Crimea as a legitimate federal subject of Russia.
Russia consequently considers 220 places of interest across Crimea to be its own cultural and historical heritage.
Recently, UNESCO announced that it did not recognize the Chersonesos Taurica Museum and Reserve in Crimea as being under Russian control.