Iraqi Sharia court to try Bryansk pedagogue on earthenware smuggling counts
BRYANSK. April 9 (Interfax) - Alexander Gorbachev, department head at the Bryansk State University's Faculty of Law, ended up in an Iraqi jail for an attempt to take away several broken pieces of earthenware, a university source told Interfax.
The university administration confirmed the information.
"Alexander Nikolayevich and his wife travelled to Egypt and bought a tour to Iraq. He picked up several broken pieces of earthenware from the ground during the excursion and was detained at the customs, which claimed the earthenware might have had a cultural and historical value," the source said.
Gorbachev is awaiting a Sharia trial. Results of laboratory tests of the pottery were expected on April 4 but did not arrive. The Iraqi side said the court would hold a preliminary session on April 10.
