Great Britain Handed Over Many Ancient Artifacts to Bulgaria

The official ceremony of handing over the cultural and historical values illegally exported from our country took place on July 15 at the Bulgarian Embassy in London and was opened by our Ambassador to the United Kingdom HE Marin Raykov in the presence of representatives of the General Directorate “Fight against Organized Crime” – Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate “Inspectorate for Preservation of Cultural Heritage” of the Ministry of Culture.

From the United Kingdom, the London Police, the Border Police, the Kent Police and representatives of the British Museum took part. Special guests were the operative police officers who seized the trafficked cultural property, the prosecutor who worked on the case, as well as the customs officers who seized the illegally imported items on the territory of the United Kingdom.

 

 

 

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“The event is a logical continuation of our joint efforts to counter this form of organized international crime”, said the director of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, Chief Commissioner Kalin Stoyanov. He cordially thanked his British colleagues for their support and established operational cooperation. According to him, the fight against other forms of organized crime and terrorism would not be effective enough if we do not pay due attention to the phenomenon of trafficking of cultural and historical values, because the preservation of cultural heritage is today’s duty to the future.

 

 

“Archaeological records help us understand the history of Bulgaria and indeed the history of civilization. Crimes related to the sale of cultural and historical values deprive us all of the opportunity to learn from the archaeological context of these objects”, said the head of the Economic Crime Department of the London Police. John Roach noted: “The return of these valuable items is also an opportunity to highlight successes, the result of close national and international cooperation based on professional relationships built over the years.”

He highlighted the joint work of Operation Medicus and Obsidian, which resulted in the restoration of thousands of artifacts. The items have been examined by experts at the British Museum, as such investigations rely on academic expertise.

 

 

 

A total of over 4,500 artifacts have been returned – about 3,800 antique coins, 3 antique amphorae, over 600 antique items – brooches, arrowheads, horse ammunition applications, parts of chariots, statuettes, etc., 121 antique rings, rings, balls, earrings , 52 antique needles and arrows, 32 ceramic and glass vessels of various shapes and sizes, 5 stone pieces and friezes.

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