On December 15, 2018, the Tax and Customs Board of Estonia confiscated archaeological artifacts that had been unlawfully imported into Estonia in a truck at the Luhamaa checkpoint along the Estonia-Russia border.
According to the research conducted by the National Heritage Board of Estonia, the artifacts originated from Ukraine. On December 8, 2023 the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia officially sent a letter from the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia, stating that the respective cultural valuables had been unlawfully exported from the territory of Ukraine, including from Crimea. Ukraine supported its letter with relevant evidence, including expert evaluations regarding the origin of the cultural treasures.
On January 23, 2024, a solemn ceremony of returning cultural heritage objects to Ukraine took place at the Estonian History Museum, accompanied by the opening of their exhibition. The event was attended by the Minister of Culture of Estonia Heidy Purga and the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Maksym Kononenko.
Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia Heidy Purga stated in her speech at the mentioned ceremony: "Throughout its history, the Ukrainian people have endured difficult trials, during which their treasures were plundered and their cultural heritage was destroyed. Today, it is our clear and unequivocal commitment to return these historical and extraordinary discoveries to Ukraine. By doing so, we send a clear message that culture does not disappear, even when efforts are made to destroy it." Heidy Purga also emphasized that this memorable historical moment once again confirms the solidarity and close friendship between Estonia and Ukraine.
In his speech at the event, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Maksym Kononenko stated the following: "By returning to us the stolen treasures, you firmly declare to Ukraine, the world, and the aggressor: Crimea is Ukraine! The regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson have been and remain Ukraine! By returning the stolen treasures to us, you affirm that Ukraine is an independent sovereign state that has prevailed! No matter how many tanks and cannons Russia deploys on the occupied territory, the territorial integrity of Ukraine remains unchanged. By returning to us the stolen treasures, you send a clear signal: the Ukrainian people deserve to have their cultural heritage and we will do everything possible to restore justice!" The Ambassador also expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people to Estonia and the Estonian people for their strong support.
During the event, a Memorandum between the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Estonia and the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine regarding the return of a cultural property was signed. On the Estonian side, the document was signed by the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia Heidy Purga, and on the Ukrainian side, it was signed by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Maksym Kononenko.
As a token of gratitude, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia presented the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia with a painting by the renowned Ukrainian artist Akhri Adjindzhal. Interestingly, the artwork did in the colors of the Estonian flag. The Ambassador expressed hope that the winter landscape depicted in the painting will find a worthy place in the office of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia and that our next exhibition, which we will open together in Tallinn, will be dedicated to contemporary Ukrainian art, which needs help and support in these turbulent times.
Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia Heidy Purga, in return, presented Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Estonia Maksym Kononenko with a symbolic gift in the form of a replica of one of the artifacts being returned to Ukraine.
The event was also attended by Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Ostash. He expressed gratitude to the Estonian side for their assistance in preserving Ukraine's cultural heritage and presented a copy of the Gospel printed in Aleppo in 1708 in the Arabic language with the support of Hetman Ivan Mazepa to Mr. Jaanus Rohumaa, the Director of the Estonian History Museum (the museum holds several items that belonged to Hetman Ivan Mazepa).