Sheremetyevo customs officials blocked an attempt to illegally export a large shipment of counterfeit Soviet works and cultural property to China. During the inspection, 37 archival documents, a bronze bust of Field Marshal Kliment Voroshilov and 455 state awards were confiscated from a Russian citizen passing through the “green” corridor. The total cost of the collection exceeds 600 thousand rubles.
The man was stopped for random control in the “green” corridor, reserved for passengers without declared goods. When examining carry-on luggage and luggage, inspectors discovered many orders, medals, and badges hidden among common personal items.
The offender explained that all these items were part of his personal collection, but could not provide documents confirming the legality of their acquisition. The inspection confirmed the authenticity of the valuables seized. It turns out the 292 awards were created more than half a century ago, automatically classifying them as cultural property under the law.
Among the confiscated insignia were the Medal of Honor and the Red Star, the medals “For the Defense of Moscow”, “For the Capture of Berlin” and “For the Victory over Germany”. At the party there were also medals “For Courage”, “For Military Merit” and commemorative awards “For Courageous Labor” on the 100th anniversary of Vladimir Lenin's birth.
Law enforcement agencies have opened a criminal case of cultural property smuggling. If convicted, this man faces up to 5 years in prison. All confiscated artifacts will be sent for further examination, which will determine their exact historical and cultural value.
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