Review of the Monograph by Sergii Kot «The Return and Restitution of Cultural Property in the Political and Cultural Life of Ukraine During the 20th and Early 21st Centuries. Kyiv: The Institute of the History of Ukraine of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2020. – 1020 p.»

Abstract

The monograph by Sergii Kot «The Return and Restitution of Cultural Property in the Political and Cultural Life of Ukraine During the 20th and Early 21st Centuries» is reviewed. This monograph is a summary of the author’s many years spent researching this topic and of his direct participation as an expert in establishing authorized state agencies of Ukraine for handling the return and restitution of cultural property, and in inter-state negotiations. It is noted that the monograph in question is the first complex, synthetic and panoramic study on the problem of return and restitution of cultural property in Ukraine during more century period. It is a history of tragic losses and attempts of return and restitution of national treasures beginning from Ukrainian Central Rada to independent Ukraine. It is a many new views by Author’s on theoretical questions of this problem and new facts and conclusions as result of its analysis. This work is a significant contribution to the historiography of the return and restitution of cultural property and to the history of Ukraine in general.