21 000 Antiques Travel from Canada to Bulgaria as Carry-On

The Minister of Culture, Vezhdi Rashidov, says Bulgaria, along with Greece and Italy, is among the countries with the largest export of antiques on the black market. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Minister of Culture, Vezhdi Rashidov, calls the delivery of 21 000 antique objects from Canada to Bulgaria "a true action."

The antiques were brought back on a plane with every member of the Bulgarian delegation to Canada bringing them in carry-on luggage. Rashidov explained the decision was made to save money because otherwise Bulgaria had to pay anywhere between EUR 250 000 and EUR 300 000 for the shipping.

The creative move has reduced the price down to EUR 20 000 – the cost of the airline tickets.

On June 11, the Department of Canadian Heritage officially returned to Rashidov the antiques, following the Canadian Court rule they were illegally exported from Bulgaria.

Initial estimates value the antiques at USD half million, but experts are still to take a closer look. The objects will be given to the National History Museum.

Rashidov says Bulgaria, along with Greece and Italy, is among the countries with the largest export of antiques on the black market.

"Antiques' illegal trade comes second after drug trafficking," the Minister explained, adding the authorities had worked on the case for one year now and the probe is ongoing.

"Many previous cabinets closed their eyes for this crime. They opened the door for precious objects to leave the country; we are opening the door for them to come back. Such large number of antiques returning to the country is a first in the last 100 years," Rashidov concluded.

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