The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation sent for a new trial the case of a shooting champion regarding the confiscation of rifles

The Supreme Court of Russia sent for a new appeal the case of five-time world champion in air gun shooting Nikolai Boldov, who challenged the confiscation of four rifles and 30 cans of bullets imported into the Russian Federation from the United States, according to court materials at the disposal of RIA Novosti.

“The complaint of Nikolai Andreevich Boldov is partially satisfied. The decision of the judge of the Moscow City Court dated August 19, 2025 and the decision of the judge of the Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction dated November 17, 2025, issued in the case of an administrative offense under Part 1 of Article 16.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, in relation to Nikolai Andreevich Boldov, are cancelled,” says the Supreme Court decision at the disposal of RIA Novosti.

It also states that the case must be returned to the Moscow City Court for a new trial.

As was established in court, the 2025 world champion and record holder, eight-time Russian champion in air gun shooting, Nikolai Boldov, was returning from international competitions from the United States on October 1, 2023; he arrived at Vnukovo airport in Moscow.

His luggage contained used sports air rifles, which were sports equipment intended for personal use, including participation in competitions.

When passing through customs control, he initially proceeded to the “red” corridor, where a customs officer, when asked how to declare rifles, informed him that declaration was not required, it was necessary to proceed to the “green” corridor.

The athlete did so, but in the “green” corridor he was stopped by customs officers, who seized four air rifles and 30 cans of bullets.

The examination showed that the cost of rifles and bullets at that time was just over 921 thousand rubles.

A year later, on December 13, 2024, based on the results of an administrative investigation, an employee of the Vnukovo Customs of the Federal Customs Service of Russia drew up a protocol on an administrative offense against Boldov, under Part 1 of Article 16.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation for non-declaration of goods.