A guide to the export and import of cultural goods between Russia ...

Сhapter 4: Russia
Russia
9. Coins, old paper money, banknotes and securities issued over 50 years ago.
10. Old orders and medals**** , commemorative and award badges, desktop medals and seals
issued over 50 years ago.
11. Rare specimens and collections of flora and fauna and objects of interest to sciences such
as anatomy, palaeontology and mineralogy, including:
11.1. plants and animals, and their parts, regardless of the conservation method
(including herbariums, stuffed animals, shells and so on);
11.2. artificial or natural preparations of whole organisms (including fossils), separate
organs, their parts or systems;
11.3. remains of fossil organisms and/or their parts (including their impressions),
regardless of the state of preservation;
11.4. specimens and collections of minerals (save for synthetic minerals), rocks and
natural non-crystalline substances of terrestrial and extra-terrestrial origin.
How many kinds of authorisations are there for the export of cultural goods?
Cultural goods can only be exported without the obligation to re-import on the basis of a
certificate for the right to export cultural goods, issued by Rossvyazokhrankultura (export
certificate).
For temporary export, that is, with the obligation to re-import within a specified term,
Rossvyazokhrankultura issues a certificate for the right of temporary export of cultural
goods (temporary export certificate).
These articles can be taken out of Russia on the basis of a reference document (spravka) issued by an offi cial
of Rossvyazokhrankultura, or a territorial offi ce of Rossvyazokhrankultura, or by a duly authorised expert, on a
form approved in Annex 2 to the Order.
*** No export certifi cate is required to export other, manufactured musical instruments, including folk instruments
(balalaika, domra, bayan and so on) from the territory of the Russian Federation.
Other bow and stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello and double bass) and bows that are neither unique nor
rare can be taken out of Russia, if they carry a registration certifi cate (pasport), in which the following entry has
been made by Rossvyazokhrankultura or by any of its territorial offi ces:
“Rossvyazokhrankultura (or the territorial offi ce thereof) hereby confi rms that this instrument/bow does not fall
within the scope of Russian Federation Law No. 4804-1, Cultural Goods Export and Import, of April 15 1993
and can be exported without a certifi cate for the right to export cultural goods from the territory of the Russian
Federation”. This entry is certifi ed by the signature of the relevant offi cial and the stamp of Rossvyazokhrankultura
or Rossvyazokhrankultura´s territorial offi ce.
**** No export certifi cate for the right to export cultural goods from the Russian Federation is required in the
case of personal decorations, provided that each is accompanied by a proper document issued in the owner’s
name and the owner is exporting them personally. This rule also applies to badges. Government decorations,
awarded in the U.S.S.R. or in Russia, carried by their legal owners or by museums can only be exported temporarily,
for exhibitions. For all other cases the export of government decorations is not permitted.
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