Transcarpathian customs officials did not allow books and icons to be taken abroad

A Ukrainian, who was going to one of the European countries, according to the documents, was carrying "wool dresses" and "oak lamella." However, as a result of the customs inspection, officers of the Transcarpathian customs office found undeclared products of the printing industry and an icon. Among the found items, there were books published in 1905, 1935, 1945, 1904; the icon "Iberian Blessed Virgin" of the twentieth century.

All that was in cardboard boxes inside the vehicle. The access to the found items was not obstructed. The citizen did not recognize the books and the icon as his property and explained that he was moving those items at the request of a friend.

According to the letter from the Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum dd. February 24, 2015, the found icon is not of any historical, cultural and artistic value, and its cost is 500 UAH.

Determination of any artistic or historical and cultural value of the found printed products requires the involvement of an expert art historian.

In accordance with the requirements of Part 5 of Article 374 of the Customs Code of Ukraine, cultural values made 50 or more years ago, regardless of their cost and manner of transportation across the customs border of Ukraine, shall be subject to a written declaration.

At the time of crossing the customs border, the citizens of Ukraine had no permits for for transportation of books and icons. Thus, the Ukrainian failed to declare in the prescribed manner accurate information about the goods that he was transporting across the customs border of Ukraine and that are subject to a written declaration. Such actions have signs of violation of customs regulations stipulated in Article 472 of the Customs Code of Ukraine.

Currently, the report on violation of customs regulations has been drawn up, and the books and the icon were confiscated.