UNESCO Places Chersonesus Taurica in Crimea on Danger List
- On Friday, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee added "the Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora" to its List of World Heritage in Danger at the 48th session, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced.
- The decision stems from Russia's illegal archaeological excavations and large-scale construction that Ukrainian experts say destroy the site's authenticity, with researcher Evelina Kravchenko warning of "negative processes."
- Russian President Vladimir Putin personally championed the "New Chersonesus" museum-and-park complex, which authorities opened in July 2024 on the site's grounds, replacing authentic archaeology with a Russian-built narrative.
- Beyond construction, Defense Intelligence documented Russia appropriating artifacts through unauthorized digs; Ukraine's prosecutor general reported Russia looted over 7.8 million artifacts and damaged nearly 2,000 cultural heritage sites since 2022.
- The site marks the 988 baptism of Kyivan prince Volodymyr, an event Russia uses to claim shared history, while Ukraine received support from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland during the UNESCO discussion.
78 Articles
78 Articles
UNESCO adds West Bank site, Lebanese castles to World Heritage List despite Israeli opposition
UNESCO added a major archaeological site in the West Bank and a group of historic castles in southern Lebanon to its World Heritage List, defying Israeli objections and reigniting a long-running dispute over the intersection of cultural heritage and politics in the region.
UNESCO adds West Bank archaeological site, Lebanese castles to World Heritage List despite Israeli objections
BUSAN, South Korea — UNESCO on Friday added the archaeological site of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank and five historic castles in southern Lebanon to its World Heritage List, despite objections from Israel, which had urged the U.N. cultural agency to reject the nominations.Meeting in the South Korean city of Busan, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee also placed both sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger after considering the nominati…
The appointment was presented as a strategy of preservation against the threat of armed conflict and disrespect for historic and cultural landmarks.
Palestinians hope Unesco designation halts Israeli push at West Bank site
Palestinian officials welcomed UNESCO’s designation of Sebastia in the occupied West Bank as a World Heritage site, hoping it will prevent Israel extending its control at the ancient village, while Israel condemned it as a political decision. Sebastia, in the northern West Bank, has archaeological remnants from successive periods dating back at least to the […]
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