"Top Macedonian Archeologist Held Over Artifacts Smuggling"

Sinisa Jakov Marusic and Sase Dimovski, "Top Macedonian Archeologist Held Over Artifacts Smuggling" Balkan Insight 15th July 2013

It is being reported today that Macedonia’s chief archeologist Pasko Kuzman, has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the smuggling of antiquities out of the country.  It seems that Kuzman is being questioned for his alleged involvement in an ongoing investigation into the smuggling of valuable icons and archeological artifacts. In fact: 

Several archeologists, employees of the culture ministry and illegal excavators have already been charged with involvement in the case. The archeologists are accused of helping the illegal excavators to determine the price of their artifacts and to find buyers abroad. Around midday on Monday, Kuzman was brought in handcuffs to the investigative judge at Skopje criminal court for questioning.

As head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Office, over the past few years Kuzman oversaw the main archeological digs across the country. If these allegations are true, it would seem that once again it turns out that the archeologists who criticize collectors are far from having their hands clean. Macedonia is notorious as a country which has arrested several American citizens (including two there on humanitarian missions) for possession of ancient artifacts, relatively minor infringements compared with this case.  Now perhaps we see the wider context of the victimization of American travelers. I wonder whether the anti-collecting archeologists will honestly be discussing the Kuzman case on their websites.