Moscow, Russia — A Russian court has sentenced an American national to a four-year prison term after he was found guilty of trying to export components of assault rifles without declaring them at a major Moscow airport. The ruling, upheld on appeal, underscores the country’s tight controls on firearm parts and the serious consequences for breaking customs rules.
Court Conviction for Undeclared Weapon Components
The Sолнцевский district court in Moscow convicted the US resident of illegally moving major firearm parts across Russian borders under national smuggling laws. Documents from the case show the man had checked in a suitcase at Vnukovo Airport that contained two stocks designed for Kalashnikov assault rifles and a Saiga carbine but failed to declare them with customs officials.
Despite acknowledging his actions and partially admitting guilt, the defendant’s arguments in both the first-instance and appellate hearings did not sway the judges, who upheld the four-year sentence to be served in a general-regime penal colony.
Defendant’s Explanation and Legal Arguments
The US citizen, identified in court records as a long-time firearms collector from California, told investigators he purchased the rifle components during a visit to Moscow for a sporting event. He maintained that such parts are legal to own in the United States and that he was unaware of Russian export restrictions.
In his appeal, he claimed he had fully cooperated with the investigation, handed over the seized parts to military authorities involved in operations, and expressed remorse. However, judges rejected these points, stating his failure to declare restricted items constituted a violation of Russian law.
Broader Travel and Legal Advisory Context
The incident and ensuing prison sentence come amid longstanding travel advisories from the US State Department cautioning citizens about legal and security risks in Russia, including strict enforcement of customs and weapons laws and potential detention over violations.
