What administrative fines and criminal penalties are provided for the smuggling of cultural property and rare animals across the Russian border?
The smuggling of cultural property and rare animals across the Russian border is subject to serious penalties under the administrative and criminal codes of the Russian Federation.
Administrative offenses and fines
Administrative liability occurs in cases where violators commit a minor offense that is not related to major damage to the State or serious violations of citizens' rights. For such an act, the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation (Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation) establishes the following punishment:
- An administrative fine from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles.
- Confiscation of contraband items.
However, if we are talking about large shipments of cultural goods or animals, the case is already qualified as a criminal offense.
Criminal liability
The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (CC RF) regulates crimes related to violations of customs legislation. Specifically, Article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is devoted to the smuggling of cultural property and endangered animals.
Penalties under Article 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation:
- A fine in the amount of 100 thousand to 500 thousand rubles.
- Forced labor for up to five years.
- Imprisonment for a term of three to seven years.
The punishment is increased if the crime is committed by a group of persons by prior agreement or an organized criminal group. In this case, the imprisonment can be up to ten years.
The punishment for such acts is quite severe and is aimed at preventing the illegal trafficking of valuable natural resources and historical artifacts.