Odesa court seizes antique jewellery a woman was carrying to Bulgaria

The Khadyzhbey district court in Odesa issued a ruling to seize an antique women's belt and bracelet in favour of the state. These items belonged to Sofiia Bicheva, who attempted to transport them to Bulgaria without the corresponding permit documents.

How customs officers discovered the antiques

The incident took place in early June 2026 at the "Orlivka" border crossing point. Sofiia Bicheva was a passenger on a bus heading to Bulgaria. The vehicle underwent customs control via the "red corridor", which entails a more thorough inspection.

During the baggage check, customs officers found a textile belt with metal decorative elements and a bracelet with an engraved ornament. The woman had no documents authorising the export of these items abroad.

Bicheva explained that she was transporting the jewellery as a gift from her grandmother. According to her, these items had been kept in the family for a long time as a family treasure. The woman emphasised that she was unaware of their historical and cultural significance, as well as the need to declare them and obtain special certificates for export.

Expertise confirmed the value of the items

The court ordered an art expertise, which was conducted with the participation of representatives from the Odesa Historical and Local Lore Museum. The experts confirmed the authenticity of both items.

The women's belt with metal plates was identified as an element of traditional Bulgarian attire from the late 19th to early 20th century. It was recognised as an object of historical, cultural, ethnographic and artistic significance. The bracelet of Bulgarian origin from the same period also received the status of an authentic cultural value.

Court ruling and fines

The court found Sofiia Bicheva guilty of failing to declare goods subject to legislative prohibitions and restrictions on export. Her actions were qualified under Part 3 of Article 471 of the Customs Code of Ukraine.

By a ruling dated 3 September 2026 (case No. 521/16365/26), the court imposed a fine of 5,100 hryvnias on the woman. She was also charged 665.60 hryvnias in court fees. The belt and bracelet were confiscated in favour of the state.

At the same time, the court rejected the customs service's claim for additional costs for storing the seized items in a warehouse. Since the items were subject to confiscation rather than return to the owner, the court found no grounds for such a charge.