Turkey says probing Russia’s claims of Syrian antiquities smuggling via Gaziantep

Ankara is “seriously” investigating claims that its citizens are involved in the illegal trade of stolen antiquities from Syria, a Turkish foreign ministry official said on Thursday.

“The claims... are being seriously investigated,” an unnamed official said, while simultaneously accusing Moscow of “propaganda” and having “political purposes” for the accusations, according to Reuters.

Earlier, Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin had submitted a letter to the UN Security Council, claiming that Daesh terrorists are netting up to $200 million a year from the illicit trade.

Cultural heritage was stolen by Daesh terrorists and then trafficked through the Turkish city of Gaziantep, Churkin said, while also mentioning the towns of Izmir, Mersin, and Antalya, where criminal groups allegedly deal with looted treasures.

MG