16:16, 15 June 2018

Customs officers hand over seized antiques to National Museum of North Ossetia

The items of historical and cultural value seized at the customs checkpoint in North Ossetia. Photo by the press service of the customs of North Ossetia

Books and silverware from pre-revolutionary Russia confiscated by customs officers of North Ossetia who prevented an attempt to export the rarities from Russia were accepted by the National Museum of North Ossetia.

The items of historical and cultural value were seized at the "Verkhny Lars" customs checkpoint, when they were to be taken out of Russia, reported Sergey Trotsko, the chief for the North-Ossetian Customs Office.

In particular, the number of rarities includes a silver napkin holder and a cigarette case from the 19th century, a salt cellar from the late 19th century, and books from the late 19th-early 20th centuries, some of which were connected with the Caucasus. The number of the seized silver objects included items manufacturers by Faberge.

"This is the wealth of our people, and it's a great pity when it all disappears ... Of course, we are always happy when our values return to us. We are to keep them for our future generations," reported Ruslan Mildzikhov, Minister for Culture of North Ossetia, as quoted by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Emma Marzoeva

Source: CK correspondent