The Security Service of Ukraine has collected evidence against collaborator Andriy Malgin – the so-called director of the Central Museum of Tavrida in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

As the investigation established, between 1 and 2 November 2022, the suspect organised the illegal removal of exhibits from the then-occupied O.O. Shovkunenko Kherson Regional Art Museum.

The looting of the cultural institution took place as the ruscists were fleeing the regional centre during Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Under Malgin’s leadership, the occupiers and their accomplices stole and transported 10,785 valuable museum items from the port city in trucks.

The looted property was first taken to the left bank of Kherson region and then to the Crimea.

It has been established that Malgin supported russia’s armed aggression and the seizure of the Crimea as early as 2014. Back then, while heading the Central Museum of Tavrida in Crimea, he initiated and actively facilitated the ‘re-registration’ of the state institution under russian law.

After the start of the full-scale war, Malgin participated in the looting of cultural institutions seized by the invaders in the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine.

Based on the evidence, investigators of the Security Service notified the ‘official’ in absentia of suspicion under Articles 28.2 and 438.1 of the CCU (war crimes, committed by a group, by prior conspiracy).

The decision to place the suspect on an international wanted list is pending.

Efforts are ongoing to identify and bring his accomplices to justice.

The investigation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the of the Prosecutor General’s Office.