Moldova hosts a regional UNESCO training on combating the illicit trafficking of Ukrainian cultural goods. Moldova’s Minister of Culture, Sergiu Prodan, and Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, Mykola Tochytskyi, inaugurated the event, marking a significant step in regional efforts to protect endangered cultural heritage.
Under UNESCO’s auspices, experts and officials from Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Moldova participate in the training, including representatives from Customs Services, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the National Patrol Inspectorate, the Border Police, and cultural heritage specialists. The participants work to enhance international collaboration and develop more effective strategies to fight illicit trafficking, a problem exacerbated by regional conflicts.
Minister Sergiu Prodan reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment to protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Minister Mykola Tochytskyi emphasized cultural heritage as a symbol of identity and civilization and condemned Russia for destroying and looting Ukraine’s cultural property.
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“He outlined Ukraine’s efforts to protect its heritage, including collaboration with UNESCO, the FBI, Interpol, and Europol. He highlighted U.S. restrictions on importing Ukrainian artifacts, legislative initiatives to align with European standards, special military unit establishment for heritage protection, and the museum collections digitalization through an e-registry,” stated an official release.
Krista Pikkat, UNESCO’s Director for Culture in Emergencies, addressed participants in a video, stressing the urgent need to protect Ukraine’s cultural heritage. She described UNESCO’s work in documenting and safeguarding sites affected by the conflict: “This mission has never been more urgent and relevant, as the situation in Ukraine has caused immense human suffering and inflicted irreparable damage on cultural heritage.”
During the three-day training, participants engage in interactive workshops, analyze case studies, and exchange experiences. This initiative strengthens collective efforts to safeguard Ukrainian heritage, combat illicit trafficking, and promote peace and intercultural understanding.
This training marks the second regional UNESCO session, following the first edition in Warsaw in January 2023.