Russian citizen Tatiana Khuzhina reportedly faces charge of smuggling Russian empire copper coin.
According to RIA Novosti news agency, she was detained at the Dushanbe airport two month ago. An inspection of passengers on the Dushanbe-Moscow flight found an 1823 Russian imperial copper 2-kopek coin in her purse. Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the woman.
RIA Novosti reports trial of Khuzhina’s case began on August 7 and Khuzhina faces smuggling charges.
“The Russian Embassy has taken the case under its control and both legal and moral assistance is being provided to Tatiana Khuzhina. Representatives of the Embassy will attend all judicial sittings,” Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan Igor Lyakin-Frolov was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
The next judicial sitting is scheduled for August 10.
According to RIA Novosti, Tatiana Khuzhina says she found the coin in Russia while sorting out old things. “I took the coin to the pawn shop and they said that the price for it is 100-200 Russian rubles. I put the coin into my purse and forgot about it,” Khuzhina was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.
Meanwhile, according to information posted on the Raritetus.ru website, the price for the 1823 Russian imperial copper 2-kopek coin fluctuates from 252 to 15,210 Russian rubles depending on its state of preservation.
