As most of you know I'm a bit of a medal nut, and when I spent 4 months in Russia in 1993 I picked up a nice little collection of Soviet medals to bring home. My Russian hosts were very dubious and said I would have problems getting them out, and they were right - my luggage was searched at Sheremetyovo, and I was lucky they werent confiscated, instead they were handed over to my hosts, who were warned not to try and get them out of the country, on pain of prosecution.
That was just what I would have expected of the Russian authorities, but I am saddened that the New Zealand government are taking this line. I hope Sqn Ldr Munro gets himself good legal advice - I strongly expect they are just trying it on. Shame on them for treating one of their war heroes in this way!
Come on
Fox - I'm sure a well paid Canadian teacher could stump up £50K easily - we'll all back you up (morally that is
)