Austria's Salzburg Museum to return stolen Greek antiquities to Russia

The Salzburg Museum in Austria said it would hand back to Russia a trove of ancient Hellenic artefacts plundered during World War II.

One of the five tombstones looted from the USSR by the Nazis in 1943
[Credit: Salzburg Museum]

A restitution certificate was issued for eight objects. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen presented it to Russia's Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Sochi earlier in the day.

The other four tombstones looted from the USSR by the Nazis in 1943
[Credit: Salzburg Museum]

The eight artefacts include five grave reliefs and three amphorae dating from the fourth century BC, when the ancient Greeks colonized the shores of the Black Sea.

The three amphorae, looted from the USSR by the Nazis in 1943
[Credit: Salzburg Museum]

A Nazi officer of Austrian descent stole the treasures from the Historical Archaeological Museum in Temryuk in Russia's southwest and sent them to his home in Salzburg. They will be returned next fall.

Author: Fahad Shabbir | Source: UrduPoint [May 28, 2019]