Experience in Developing the Nomination “Historic Environment of the Capital of the Crimean Khans in the City of Bakhchisarai” for Inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List

Abstract

The article examines the experience of developing the nomination “Historical Environment of the Capital of the Crimean Khans in the City of Bakhchisarai” for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The cultural heritage of Crimea is of great historical importance for world culture. The Ukrainian-Russian war has jeopardized the issue of preserving the unique cultural heritage, which is under threat of destruction during the bombing of the territory of Ukraine. Significant territories of Ukraine have been annexed since 2014. Since then, Ukrainian researchers have not had access to the cultural heritage sites of Crimea. The fate of world-class cultural heritage is of concern, since the aggressor has been violating the norms of international humanitarian law in the field of cultural heritage protection since the seizure of Crimea. A number of nominations to the UNESCO World Heritage List were submitted by Ukraine, among which a unique complex site within the city of Bakhchisarai is located. The Khan’s Palace complex with its surrounding urban and natural surroundings has significant historical and cultural value, contains valuable architectural, urban planning, natural and cultural components and attracted pilgrims and tourists from all over the world to the annexation. Currently, so-called “restoration work” and illegal archaeological excavations are being carried out in the occupied territories, and in particular in the city of Bakhchisarai. Architectural and urban planning activities in the protected area of ​​the palace complex are of concern. The components of the Bakhchisarai site from the Preliminary List emphasized and proved the uniqueness of the small city, became its dominants. The process of preparing the nomination dossier contributed to detailed historical and urban planning studies of Bakhchisarai and cultural heritage sites within its borders and surrounding territories. The issue of preserving the unique cultural heritage of Bakhchisarai, which is under threat, is becoming extremely relevant. The subject of the study is a complex of monument protection measures for the preparation of the Bakhchisarai nomination in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The object of the study is the process of cooperation between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Ukraine in the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage.