Don't Go to Jail for Russian Souvenirs

There was an interesting article in The Moscow Times newspaper about a Chilean woman who is in jail because of old Russian souvenirs. She bought some old Soviet medals at a flea market in Voronezh and was detained when she tried to take her flight to Munich.





All items of historical value can only be taken out of Russia with a special permission given by the Ministry of Culture. These are usually the items more than 70 years old, but also medals, icons, and original artwork. If you buy these items through specialized shops, they will usually assist you with the special permission and advice. However, if you get a medal at a flea market, even if it's less than 70 years old, it might cause a problem at the border. So you're always advised to get receipts and get rare items through specialized stores.

Here's the article from The Moscow Times:
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2007/08/31/002.html

Here's more information about the Russian customs regulations:
http://waytorussia.net/Practicalities/Customs.html

Thanks to Vladimir Paranyushkin for a link to this article in MT.