Civil Servant of High Rank in Bulgaria Detained Possessing a Varying Trove of Artifacts and Coins During Crackdown on Illegal Antiquity Digging
In a significant development, a senior Bulgarian civil servant, Stanislav Stanilov, and Ara Humanyan, 57, have been arrested for allegations of treasure hunting and illegal possession of archaeological artifacts and coins. The arrests were made public by the Haskovo police and District Prosecutor's Office at a special news conference.
The artifacts and coins in their possession feature images of Ancient Macedon King Philip II and his son, Emperor Alexander the Great, as well as coins from various periods, including 2,500 BC, the Hellenistic Period, Roman and Byzantine periods, and the medieval Bulgarian Empire. Notably, the seized coins include coins of medieval Bulgarian emperor, Tsar Ivan Asen II.
Stanilov, a member of the numismatic society in Haskovo for over 20 years, claims most of the artifacts and coins are replicas or restored by him. He has never used the metal detector he has owned for 5-6 years, he asserted. The authenticity of the coins is yet to be examined by experts from the National Museum of History in Sofia.
No gold coins have been found in the confiscated coin stashes, but the alleged treasure trove includes over 200 coins, hundreds of metal and clay items, pithoi, bowls, and appliques. Two illegally owned metal detectors have been seized from Stanilov and Humanyan.
The Haskovo District Court has rejected the prosecution's request for the permanent detention of the two men, and has released them on a bail of BGN 1,000 each. If found guilty, they might face up to 6 years in prison and fines of up to BGN 15,000 for the illegal possession of cultural and historical artifacts.
Treasure hunting and illegal trafficking of antiques have been rampant in Bulgaria, with estimates suggesting it is the second most profitable activity for the Bulgarian mafia after drug trafficking. The number of those involved in this activity is estimated to range from about 5 000 to 300 000, with the vast majority being impoverished low-level diggers. The annual turnover of this activity is estimated to amount to BGN 500 million (app. EUR 260 million).
This is the first time alleged treasure hunters have been arrested in Bulgaria's Haskovo District with such a large quantity of artifacts. Stanilov, who was previously registered and legally approved with the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, thinks his collection was not "of such class" to warrant registration as required by the Cultural Heritage Act.
The police and the prosecution have not confirmed speculations about the suspects trading ancient or medieval gold coins. However, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving Bulgaria's rich cultural heritage and the need for stricter regulations to combat treasure hunting and the illegal trafficking of antiques.
