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The Piprahwa jewels have previously been described as 'one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the modern era'
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A collection of valuable relics given back to India following a row over "colonial exploitation" have almost immediately been loaned to Russia.
The Indian Government had demanded the return of items including the Piprahwa gems, sacred jewels and cremated remains believed to have belonged to the Buddha.
Auction house Sotheby's handed the items back to New Delhi in 2023.
However, the relics will be sent to Russia, where they will be on display at the National Museum in Elista.
The cache of valuable minerals was discovered by British colonial landowner William Claxton Peppe in northern India in 1898.
It was held privately for decades until a private auction in Hong Kong was scheduled in May, causing outrage from the Indian Government.
New Delhi issued a legal notice against the auctioneer and Chris Peppe, William’s heir, to stop the "unethical" sale, while the Indian Ministry of Culture accused Sotheby’s of "participating in continued colonial exploitation."
After Sotheby's agreed to the return, a Government spokesman said the treasures would remain on permanent public display in India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modia, calling it a "proud and joyous moment" for the country.
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Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat carrying the jewels
|GETTY
The Sacred Piprahwa Relics were briefly returned to India
|GETTY
However, just two months later, the items were loaned to Russia part of New Delhi’s "soft power diplomacy" to strengthen ties with Moscow.
The exhibition will take place in Kalmykia, a Russian republic in the south west of the country, around 500km to the north of the border with Georgia.
The area has a significant Buddhist population, with the exhibition showcasing the Piprahwa relics and a short documentary will also be screened.
Keshav Prasad Maurya, a deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, a northern Indian state, will lead the delegation carrying the sacred relics to Russia.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya with deputy CM Brajesh Pathaka will lead the procession
|GETTY
Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offers floral tributes to Sacred Piprahwa Relics, which have been loaned to Russia
|GETTTY
The gems have been described as "one of the most astonishing archaeological finds of the modern era" and date back to the Mauryan Empire, circa 240 to 200 BC.
Mr Peppe initially found them in a stupa, a Buddhist shrine, in Piprahwa in his northern Indian estate near the Buddha’s birthplace, and kept them as family heirlooms.
They were found buried alongside bone fragments and were identified by an inscribed urn belonging to the Buddha.
In a deal done at the time, Peppe was allowed to keep a set of 300 gems, some of which were described as "duplicates", with most of the 1,800 gems going to the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
The sacred Piprahwa Relics were given to India in July
|GETTY
The bones and ash were given to the Buddhist monarch King Chulalongkorn of Siam in present-day Thailand.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed the return of the relics to India at the time.
He wrote on social media: "When they appeared in an international auction earlier this year, we worked to ensure they returned home.
"I appreciate all those who have been involved in this effort."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strengthened his ties with the Kremlin
|GETTY
In recent months, Prime Minister Modi has been strengthening ties with Moscow, often causing friction between India and the West due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump and his top officials have criticised India for buying oil from Russia and said that India was funding the war in Ukraine, a charge New Delhi denies.
The ongoing tensions with the US has coincided with India warming up to China.
Last month, Modi made his first visit to China in seven years for a summit hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping and was seen holding hands with President Vladimir Putin.
President Trump previously urged the European Union to impose 100 per cent tariffs on China and India as part of a strategy to pressure Putin.
Indian officials said they do not believe the EU is planning any sanctions against India and New Delhi has been assured that no negative surprise will derail the ongoing trade talks with the EU.