Exporting Of Items.

[desantnik]

I second the motion - don't even consider it.

[Pravda]

Thank you for your responses. I will definitely take that into consideration.

Cheers,
Will

[Tretov]

Buy the common stuff on eBay and the more delicate stuff here.

[RedMaestro2]

I assume exporting medals from Ukraine is still illegal?

If yes, than how does so much on ebay escape the country?

[Bob]

When I was there a few years ago I recall that in Kiev there's an area with market stalls (it's an older part of Kiev, cobble stoned road, in city center) where there were also medals dealers.

Buyer beware though...

[Henry Sakaida]

When I was in Kiev, I found a small coin in a park and decided to keep it as a souvenir. I tossed it into my suitcase. It was detected by the airport x-ray and the Customs official said, "Coin! Coin!" He went through my baggage and found it and said, "No! No coin!" And I went on my way. Had I missed my flight, I would have been screwed!!!

Just before I left, the neighbor of my host came to say goodbye and offered me a bunch of common medals on a bar, about 5 or 6 really common stuff. Luckily, I declined. I could get them here in the US.

If you want to tempt faith and get a real Adrenalin rush, try sneaking out a medal. They would love to make an example out of you. Then tell us about your nightmare experience with Ukrainian customs and the hefty fine you had to pay. They could care less if you were ignorant about their export laws.

[EricFG]

But still, how can we buy so many coins or medals, via ebay, from Ukraine?
Is it because they are 'dealers' somehow and that money's flowing back in to country?

[medals73]

Originally Posted by EricFG

But still, how can we buy so many coins or medals, via ebay, from Ukraine?
Is it because they are 'dealers' somehow and that money's flowing back in to country?

Because they have deals with the guys in customs that we don't/can't enjoy?

[Tretov]

How is the current situation regarding Soviet decorations in Belarus, and capital Minsk, and how about exporting them? Is it the same regulations as in Russia?

[dav1941]

In my last trip there in 2001 I had no problems but with todays environment who knows? In those days it was possible to pick up handfulls of campaign/defense medals right in front of the Cosmos hotel in Minsk where there was an impromtu flea market down the street toward downtown. They were not asking much then either. In particular I remember this old guy wanting to sell a collection of medals and orders with documents. Since I wasn't a collector then it seemed ridiculous that someone would pay money for that kind of stuff. I was more interested in collecting the multitude of denominations of bills circulating at the time since there were no coins on hand. Fascinating, not sure if they have coins now? You had tons of bills and felt rich!