Exporting Of Items.

[Chris]

You can take medals through customs if you know who's hand to grease.

If not stand by for a very hard time.

It is against the law


Chris

[Dave]

I had an ugly experience while going through the airport there in Moscow getting awards confiscated... I had been sending awards home with people in their luggage. The stuff was always getting through, no big deal.

One day at the market, I bought this really nice 1920's Red Army flag top. It was really neat and I thought it would be grand to have in the collection. (It had supposedly come from one of the State museums, incidentally)

I had about 30 awards by this time, mostly Glory 3rds, Labor Glories, Red Banners, Red Banners of Labor, etc... Maybe $1000 worth of awards (I did have a nice three-digit Glory 3rd in there!)

My folks came over to visit, and when they were leaving, I decided to pack all my 'finds' in their suitcases for trucking home to the US.

Well, going through the x-ray machine, they picked the flag top right out, and opened the luggage. Somehow, they found one of the medals, and it was all downhill from there!

What was funny was that I had a number of WW2 Generals uniforms and hats that I had purchased as well... They had no interest in that stuff, they wanted the medals! Likewise, there was no interest in the flag top as well, even though it was definately a very old looking, and for anyone familiar with Soviet history, extremely historic.

Nope! All they wanted was the medals...

They took the whole batch of awards, bagged them up, and then sealed them with the customs tags. Interestingly, they let me take them (unescorted) to another customs window to turn them in. They allowed me to carry them in line escorting my parents to baggage turn-in, and the thought did cross my mind to put the awards back in their luggage! Had anyone seen that, I would have been in some severe hot water, I think!

Turning the awards in, they gave me a receipt for them, and said that they could be picked up anytime... by my father!!! I tried to just take them with me, as I told them I lived there in Moscow, but they said that since they were confiscated under his passport, he had to be the one to pick them up. Since he never went back to Russia, I never was able to pick them up. I tried going back later to pick them up, but they gave me the same answer. (That time did allow me into the storeroom of confiscated stuff... wow! A lot of samovars and icons!!!)

I never got my awards back. They're probably out there somewhere... Just one of those 'live and learn' things!!!

--Dave

[Henry Sakaida]

I once met a dealer in Soviet orders and medals. He told me that he avoided getting caught simply by NOT taking a plane out of the Soviet Union because of x-ray machines. He took the train into Poland, etc. He said they hardly ever searched his baggage.
Not all Customs inspectors are on the take. When I went to Kiev in October 2002, a Russian friend told me to slip a $10 bill to expediate movement. I decided to test it. I slipped my passport with a bill inside. The officer opened my passport, look at the bill, then at me and asked "What is this?" I was embarrassed that he asked me! Then he politely pushed the bill to me, smiled, and shook his head. I pushed it back and said, "It's OK." He pushed it back and said politely, "I'm sorry, no." I didn't push it.
Then I came to the customs inspector. I had packed a duffel bag full of food for my friends. He arbitrarily asked what was inside, did a quick mental calculation, and said, "Special tax. $90.00." I was shocked! What BS! And then he pointed to the back of the line and said, "Get special form there." I wanted to get out and didn't want to be delayed. Finally, I slipped him a $100 bill and said, "Come on! I have to go. No special form!"
He "reluctantly" took the bill and passed me through.
Some are honest and others are not. It was an intereseting experience for me. My friend says: "The government is the Mafia!"

[DougD]

They are pretty good about letting you know if they will take a bribe. I did one last summer in Kiev and it was only $10; got us all through about 30 minutes faster, no forms. No big deal.

However, yes, not taking an airplane out is the best way to go. I have been over 6 times, flown out of the country 5 times. But once, I took a train to Finland. No problems, no searches, etc.

I have had alot of high end uniforms brought out on the ground to either Finland or Turkey and then sent to me over here.

The BEST way to get as much as you want out with no problems is this; Take one of the cruises they offer of the Baltic. You stay in the cruise ship in St.Pete, your own hotel on the water. Each day load up what you want in your cabin and then steam away, no problems. Its an idea for the future... : )

DD

[Henry Sakaida]

Not to put a damper on collecting, but I no longer collect the stuff. I'm just after the stories and the medals just provided an interesting "excuse" to go on my ventures! After the Umurdinov medal return was written up in Russian, that is my passport. When I write to Soviet veterans and organizations, I always include the article, and my inquieries are always well received.
But I still get very excited when I see interesting groups! There are so many various medals and orders out there, a budding collector should specialize. When I first started collecting, I was torn between collecting the "Capture of..." medals and the Red Banners and Lenins. Then I decided to get a Type 1 and 2 Hero Star before the prices skyrocket. I'm still trying to become an expert on the Hero Star.
If you can afford it, get a Hero Star first, then there will be no more pressure since you have the top stuff. Then work down to a Lenin or the Red Banners.
Most people who go to Ukraine or Russia from here cannot afford to be detained for questioning at the airport when your plane is about to leave! Better not to pack medals if you are planning to fly...better stick to ground transportation!
I hope we are NOT encouraging anyone to engage in illicit behavior! It is not for the amateur. But it would be exciting to get away with it!

[new world]

I just read an article following the recent high profile arrests in Moscow, with some high-ranking corrupt officers - mostly Colonels - from Moscow Criminal Police Force (MUR) were detained by the authorities.

Naturally, their residences were searched and all their belongings were retained by the state. They had al sorts of expensive items, such as thousands of $$$ in cash, multiple houses, cars, weapons, antiques, etc. The most outrageos items were gold-plated toilets????!!!!!! LOL

I was reading the list of confiscated items and noticed that some of the criminals were also awards collectors!!!!

And quite serious collectors I'd say. For example, one of the Colonels had collection of orders and medals valued at around USD $1 million!!!!

I am just trying to imagine what sorts of rare items were in his collection

Are these the types of collectors who are largely responsible for the recent hikes in prices for the Soviet awards?
I mean when these guys buy - they probably don't bargaing for the price - they just pay whatever is asked, driving the prices up through the roof...

Here's the link in Russian:

http://www.kp.ru/daily/23058/4572/


Best regards,
William

[HuliganRS]

From what it sounds like in the article the awards were partly Imperial... It looks like these guys like antiques!

Talk about living LARGE.

Rusty.

[Bone Collector]

Cool, if I were a corrupt russian police I'd definately do the same

[Dave]

Originally posted by new world
I mean when these guys buy - they probably don't bargaing for the price - they just pay whatever is asked, driving the prices up through the roof...

Actually, who's to say that they even BOUGHT them! From reading the article, looks like maybe that was 'confiscated' loot! Hey, if a criminal had a nice collection, why not make it your own?

--Dave

[HuliganRS]

Dave is right!
It's called the Russian way: What's yours is mine, what's mine is mine!!!