The Issues of Protecting Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The article deals with the issues of protecting underwater cultural heritage in the Russian Federation. The subject-matter of the research are the factors affecting the preservation of the objects of underwater cultural heritage in Russia and the national legislation on protecting cultural heritage. The paper aims to present the system analysis of the issues of Russian Federation underwater cultural heritage. The article studies the reasons for arising the issues in this area, scrutinizes the factors affecting badly the objects of underwater cultural heritage, in particular legal and non legal factors. The author shows the lack of terminological consistency in Russian legislation for underwater cultural heritage and individual approach to register and catalogue them. Conclusions have been made that Russian Federation legal issues may cause damage or loss of an object of underwater cultural heritage as a valuable source of knowledge on historical and cultural past of the country. The article analyzes the topical national legislation on protecting underwater cultural heritage as well as normative acts 73-FZ On the objects of underwater cultural heritage (monuments of history and culture) of the Russian Federation Peoples of 2002, Russian Federation Criminal Code. A case from the practice of discovering and registration of sunk vessels and underwater artifacts in the water area of the Gulf of Finland has been shown. Hence, a conclusion has been made on the urgency to reconsider and amend Russian legislation in the area of cultural heritage. The author makes recommendations to improve normative acts to protect cultural heritage and managing underwater cultural heritage.