[meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet Meteorite Shop

From: Mark <mafer_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jun 28 18:34:40 2006
Message-ID: <021301c69b03$1b26c290$01fea8c0_at_maf>

Wow Norbert, this is a sad state of events isn't it.
I seem to remember a thread some time back about Brahin that might have been
collected within the Chernobyl zone. I don't remember and did not follow the
thread that closely. I wonder if this is an embarassment to the Russian gov?
I would have to wonder about the keeping of homeland rarities like
meteorites within borders much like Australia and Canada do now, but to keep
someone in the dark completely about what they have done is very cheap and
childish.
In any case, it seems that our Russian friends are without any answers to
the problem and the future is totally unknown.

Mark Ferguson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Norbert Classen" <trifid_at_timewarp.de>
To: "meteorite-list" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 6:09 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Email from Serge & Comet Meteorite Shop


> Dear List Members,
>
> Not long ago, there has been some discussion on this list about the people
> of Comet Meteorite Shop, Russian dealers, etc., and some rumors even had
> it
> that "we won't see the Russians again at future shows".
>
> As you can see from the recent Ensisheim show reports, these rumors are
> not
> true as there was a delegation of the Comet Meteorite Shop people at the
> Ensisheim show, and at the St. Marie aux Mines shows. As always, they had
> a
> great selection of meteorites from Dhofar, and other locations.
>
> Anyway, the Comet Meteorite Shop people have been encountering problems,
> and
> things haven't completely solved until now. So Serge Afanasiev asked me to
> forward an explanation to the list so that you all get a better idea of
> what's been going on in Russia, and what the problems are actually all
> about. Please find Serge's post below.
>
> All the best,
> Norbert Classen
>
> PS: Since Serge isn't on the list, anymore, I will also forward your
> replies
> to him.
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> Dear List,
>
> In late October 2005, me and my friends were going to the Munich show with
> a
> lot of stuff. We were intending to go by car through Finland - we had
> plans
> to visit the Muonionalusta site before travelling to Germany as we did
> prior
> to the French shows in June 2005. We were stopped at the Russian-Finnish
> border from our side. Prior to that we traveled a lot without encountering
> any problems - we just said that we were traveling with stones and that
> was
> enough. This time (we've noticed that later) our KGB was following us. We
> do
> not know yet for whom it was so interesting to catch us, but that is the
> fact. They said that this is a crime and arrested us.
> After 2 days they let us free, but now I and one of my friends can't go
> out
> of Russia.
> It seems that it is some government idea to stop mineral business in
> Russia,
> I do not know. I can't put a spot on somebody of Russian stone people as a
> competitor who can be so angry for example personally with me. Nonsense.
> It
> is not so much real competition here in Russia. I know 99% of all dealers.
> The process is not finished yet. They press us very much. Everybody of the
> mineral, fossil and meteorite people from Russia are very afraid to ship
> or
> carry some stony goods abroad. All are waiting for the final outcome of
> our
> situation. I know something about dino-eggs from China and the meteorite
> situation in Australia. Maybe our situation is in line with that. But
> certainly not that easy.
> I really do not know what will happen later. But if they really will close
> the Russian border for stones - that'll be a big problem for mineral
> business in general, and not only for us Russians. Ok, I think that the
> details about spending a lot of time in KGB and with lawyers isn't of much
> interest to you, but just imagine that this is what we are dealing with
> now
> and what we are thinking about most of the time.
> It is actually strange that a small group of people (really not rich) is
> of
> interest to the State. Our stones are not gold, not diamonds, not oil or
> gas, nothing of strategic importance - you know what I mean. That's all
> for
> now.
> All the best, Serge
>
>
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Received on Wed 28 Jun 2006 06:35:06 PM PDT