ILI co-organized an expert discussion in London on sanctions, cultural assets, and challenges for international law
An international expert event co-organized by ILI together with international partners took place in London, dedicated to the role of cultural assets in contemporary sanctions policy, art market risks, the prosecution of individuals involved in crimes against cultural heritage, and new data tools in the context of complex international challenges.
The event brought together lawyers, sanctions experts, art market researchers, compliance professionals, representatives of cultural institutions, and think tanks from various countries. At the center of the discussion were practical questions concerning the application of sanctions to individuals and legal entities involved in cultural crimes, the illicit movement of cultural objects, the use of art for covert capital transfers, and international cooperation in the documentation of cultural crimes.
A separate segment focused on Ukraine’s experience. Participants presented practical cases involving the documentation of individuals engaged in illegal archaeological excavations in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the institutional integration of occupied territories into Russia’s cultural space, and efforts to advance sanctions cases in international jurisdictions.
It was emphasized that, for Ukraine, culture has a direct security dimension. Culture is a matter of security, identity, and survival. Participants noted that international sanctions regimes do not always treat cultural cases consistently: they are often viewed through the lens of propaganda rather than as a distinct component of security policy.
The discussion also addressed the challenges of proving ownership of cultural objects illegally removed from occupied territories, as well as the issue of Russia destroying open-source digital evidence following the launch of international sanctions proceedings.
Another important segment focused on new technologies in sanctions analytics. Experts presented modern approaches to using AI for structuring large datasets, preparing audit-friendly evidence, and supporting due diligence and compliance processes. It was emphasized that AI should remain an auxiliary tool – a reliable junior researcher – while final decisions must always be made by humans.
The Ukrainian side also shared its experience of cross-sector cooperation between state institutions, civil society, and analytical teams following the start of the full-scale invasion. In particular, this included cooperation with the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and participation in the development of the War and Sanctions Portal.
In conclusion, participants agreed that cultural assets today are not only part of cultural policy but also a component of broader global processes – from sanctions policy and countering sanctions evasion to heritage protection and international security.