They are repatriated to Greece from Switzerland 15 ancient artifacts dating from the prehistoric to the Roman periodseized by court order in criminal proceedings before a Geneva court against a well-known dealer in antiquities.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, these are figurines, earthenware and copper vessels, a golden diadem with laurel leaves, the torso of a naked youth, a bronze statuette of a naked athlete, a pair of bronze anklets and a silver coin (stater).

These objects were seized by the Geneva authorities as a precautionary measure. According to the same report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after being informed by the Consulate General of Greece about the case, appointed a lawyer to take all necessary steps to gain access to all the objects under arrest.

Among them, the presence of 15 antiquities of Greek interest was found. After the relevant documentation, by a court decision issued in July 2022, these objects were finally assigned to the Greek state as products of illicit trafficking.

“The need to repatriate cultural property that has been removed illegally or through procedures of dubious legality is dictated by the fundamental principles of international conventions, regardless of time limits or restrictions,” said, in particular, the Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni. .

“The Competent Office for the Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property, in cooperation with all relevant services, works tirelessly and selflessly to ensure that achieve both the return of illegally exported monuments and awareness of the problem of antiquities by every citizen.

These efforts have yielded very important results, and we are confident that many more successes will follow,” the minister added, thanking “Greek Consul General in Geneva, Mr. Alexandros Jennimata, for his decisive contribution to publicizing the case and repatriation.” Department of Antiquities, the Attorney General of the Hellenic State, Mr. Romanos Skandamis, and for the key role he played in the successful outcome of this case, the Swiss Archaeological School, as well as the Office of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Properties for all its activities.”