North-West operative customs: on the fact of illicit import of cultural property a criminal case
Staff of the North-Western operational customs initiated a criminal case under part 1 of article 226.1 of the Criminal Codec of the Russian Federation concerning the citizen of the Russian Federation and unidentified persons on the fact of illegal movement through customs border of the Russian Federation in the framework of the Eurasian economic Union of cultural valuables is worth over 100 thousand rubles.
In a course quickly-search actions conducted by the North-Western operational customs discovered more than 300 objects, as declared on the nominal owner for a reward. According to experts these items belong to the category of cultural values, their movements are governed by the law of the Russian Federation dated April 15, 1993 №4804-1 “On export and import of cultural values”.
Smuggled goods were being sold in antique shops in St. Petersburg and fell directly into the hands of collectors.
Among them are: vase, model No. 9045, the sculptor Ernst Wahliss, place and time of creation – Western Europe, Austria 1910; carriage clock Vincent et Cie, place and time of creation – Western Europe, France, 3rd quarter of the twentieth century; the sculptural composition “Toboggan trio with two riders”, the sculptor E. NAPs, time and place of creation: Russia, XIX century.
The departure of cultural property and the European Union. Destination country – Russian Federation. Most of the items, today seized by customs. The whereabouts of the other products currently installed.
Reference: article 226.1 of the criminal code provides for punishment of imprisonment from three to seven years with a fine in the amount up to one million rubles or the salary or other income condemned for the period till five years or without such and with restriction of liberty for a term up to one year or without such.
Act committed by an organized group shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term from seven till twelve years with a fine in the amount up to one million rubles or the salary or other income condemned for the period till five years or without such and with restriction of liberty for a term up to two years or without such deprivation.
Vera Filippova,
a press-Secretary Severo-the Western operative customs