At Krasnoyarsk Airport, customs officers prevented four Soviet state decorations from being taken to China after an X-ray scan revealed phaleristics in the baggage of a 57-year-old foreign national. Source: FCS Russia.
The man was stopped in the green channel. Among personal items in his travel bag were an Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class; jubilee medals “For Valiant Labour. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of V.I. Lenin's birth” and “40 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”; and a medal “For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”.
The passenger said he had lived in Russia for many years and had bought the order and medals at a local market about fifteen years ago; he was now taking them abroad as a gift to a friend.
Forensic examination confirmed that the awards were genuine; two were classified as cultural valuables.
Administrative offence reports were drawn up under Article 16.2(1) of the Russian Administrative Offences Code (failure to declare goods) and Article 16.3 (breach of prohibitions and restrictions). The items were seized pending a court decision.
FCS Russia notes that individuals may export cultural valuables for personal use only with a permit from the Russian Ministry of Culture and a passenger customs declaration.
