An attempt was made to smuggle ancient holy relics out of Ukraine by hiding them in personal belongings, the State Customs Service reported on Monday, UNN reports.
Details
At the Uzhhorod-Avtomobilny customs post on the border with Slovakia, Transcarpathian customs inspectors recorded two cases of illegal export of ancient icons from Ukraine.
"In the first case, a resident of Kherson tried to smuggle a relic of the Lord Almighty (dating from the second half of the nineteenth century) through the "green corridor". In another case, a resident of Cherkasy region attempted to smuggle an ancient icon across the Ukrainian-Slovak border by getting into a foreigner's car as a passenger. Customs officers found the ancient icon "The Blessed Virgin Mary in Red with Child" in the woman's personal belongings," the customs service reported.
It is indicated that both relics are depicted on a wooden surface and are made using a unique iconographic technique
Reports on violation of customs regulations under Part 1 of Article 483 of the Customs Code of Ukraine were drawn up against the Ukrainian citizens. The relics were seized and handed over to experts for examination as to whether they may be of cultural or historical value.