Russia Captures Master Criminal

I'm sure plenty of folks in Russia are breathing a little easier tonight.

A Russian court hearing against a University of Missouri-St. Louis graduate student, who is charged with trying to smuggle old coins and military medals out of the country, lasted for more than two hours today and will resume on Thursday, said the student, Roxana Contreras.

Contreras, 29, has been stuck in Voronezh in southwestern Russia since mid-June after authorities stopped her at the airport. The Chilean citizen said she bought the souvenirs for $66 U.S. dollars from a vendor and did not know it was illegal totake them with her.

Dozens of U.S. researchers, UMSL Chancellor Thomas George, and U.S. Rep. Todd Akin have written letters on her behalf. Her supporters say she has been harshly treated for a minor infraction.

Contreras, a physics researcher, said by phone Tuesday that the judge requested documents from UMSL about her English proficiency. She could face a fine or a maximum of seven years in prison.

…

Three early 20th century bank notes she bought and a 1924 coin she was given drew the smuggling charge, for which Contreras could be sentenced to three to seven years in prison in convicted, said the lawyer, Alexei Andreyeshev.

Contreras, a graduate student in physics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, is also charged with the illegal acquisition of official documents and state awards, which carries a fine of up to $3,100.

She bought six medals at the main flea market in Voronezh the same day, said Andreyeshev.

He said experts valued the items at less than $40.

…

The lawyer criticized prosecutors for charging Contreras over the kind of items that are widely available as souvenirs at street markets throughout Russia. "Walk into any antique store in the country and you will see things far more serious than this" for sale, he said.

He said when customs agents had removed the items from Contreras' luggage at the airport on June 14, it would have been appropriate to simply confiscate them and fine her, but instead chose to pursue charges.

I wish I could do more, but being a humble blogger all I can do is call the Russian authorities morons.

Hey!  Russian authorities!  You're a bunch of morons!