Activities of State Institutions of Ukraine in the Return of Cultural Property and Documentary Archival Collections

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this publication is to investigate the activities of the State institutions of Ukraine in identifying and returning historical, cultural property, library collection, and archival documents to Ukraine. Methods. The research is based on the method of system analysis and synthesis, historical method, structural-functional analysis, and problem method. Results. Based on archival documents, legislative and regulatory acts, and published research, the article analyzes the activities of state institutions of Ukraine in the process of returning cultural and historical property as well as archival and library collections to Ukraine. The chronological framework of the research is stipulated by the establishment of the National Commission for the Return of Cultural Property to Ukraine after Ukraine’s independence and a significant narrowing in the early 2000s of the state policies on the return of historical and cultural heritage. Conclusions. The results showed that during the existence of the National Commission for the Return of Cultural Property to Ukraine and the State Service for Monitoring the Movement of Cultural Property Across the State Border of Ukraine, the Department for the Control of the Movement of Cultural Property did a wide range of multi-vector work. The foundations were laid for future long-term intergovernmental cooperation in the field of search, record-keeping, return of historical and cultural property, library collection, archival documents, and collections.