Russia Needs To Release Jailed S.C. Pastor
TIME TO STEP UP, PALMETTO POLITICIANS
FITSNews – April 21, 2008 – A South Carolina pastor has been sentenced to serve three years and two months in a Russian jail for bringing 20 hunting shells into the country. Meanwhile, these people might as well be having a yard sale given how easily their weapons-grade plutonium has slipped into the wrong hands. From CNN:
Phillip Miles, from South Carolina, has been in custody since his arrest on Feb. 3. He was arrested several days after customs agents at a Moscow airport found a box of 20 rifle shells in his luggage … Miles has said he brought the .300 caliber cartridges for a friend who had recently bought a Winchester rifle. He said he did not know bringing such ammunition into Russia was illegal.
Judge Olga Drozdova accepted in her 20-minute summation that Miles had brought the ammunition for a friend, “as they are both inveterate hunters.”
Wait – so the judge acknowledges that the pastor is telling the truth and yet she still slaps him with a 3-year smuggling conviction as opposed to the much less draconian illegal possession charge? Geez, what a “cyka.”
Comments
By ALEKSANDR VALOV on April 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am
IF YOU GOT PROBLEMS WITH RUSSIA STAY IN NC
By Scott H on April 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Well, to borrow from Will, a “Brazillion” lawyers read this blog, so someone will soon chime in with the “ignorance of the law is no excuse” point.
Frankly, I agree with his arrest and conviction; however, I do think that in the interest of diplomatic relations, he should be released to the embassy.
When I have travelled overseas, I have double and triple checked the rules for what I can bring. How could someone NOT check the rules on travelling with ammunition?
If a foreign national made a stupid mistake on bringing something into the US, many Americans would favor holding him accountable (hopefully most would also favor his release to his embassy after the trial).
Imagine, say, a Saudi Arabian national who worked in manufacturing and forgot to take his box cutter out of his carry on before he flew to the US.
By G.L. on April 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
This is crazy. South Carolina politicians need to step up and demand that he be released. Seems to me like him being deported and banned from coming back to Russia would be a sufficient punishment for this “crime.”
By C. Daniels on April 21st, 2008 at 11:55 am
#2, the fact that he broke the law is not at issue. The problem is that the guy gets 3 years for transporting rifle ammunition used for hunting as a gift for a friend. Admittedly if his story is true that was a stupid mistake, but he shouldn’t have to wallow in a gulag for such a minor offense. I would hope that the US Dept. of State is getting involved in to this.
As to Mr. Valov the russo-commie, learn how to type without caps and study your map to learn the difference between NC and SC. Russians should stick to drinking vodka and beating women and not concern themselves with civilized discussions of fairness and justice.
By Spike on April 21st, 2008 at 12:41 pm
You know, given the amount of violent crime in Russia, who’d notice a mere 30 rounds? I hear that no self-respecting member of the Russian Mafia would go anywhere with less than a couple hundred rounds.
This guy made two mistakes, which are also big mistakes made in many a small Southern town speedtrap (Cottageville, McBee, Turbeville, Society Hill, Ravenel, etc.) – first, he wasn’t from ’round there, and second, he didn’t pay off the right people.
By Robert Hayward on April 21st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Let’s just look at the facts:
- for whatever reason, but most likely for his incredible stupidity, this pastor decided to bring over 20 gun shells to Russia on the plane. This is a violation of not only Russian law, but of international transportation security rules.
- illegal smuggling of ammunition to Russia is an offense punishable by minimum 3 up to 7 years of jail time
Unfortunately for this poor slob, he got caught red-handed. He got the softest punishment that the Russian law allows in this situation and should now serve his time. Being stupid is not a good excuse for breaking the law.
Imagine if a Saudi imam decided to take along a couple of boxes of gun shells on his flight to NYC. Why should not he be punished by an American law for breaking it? Laws are different in different countries and all responsible adults should know that. The punishment for the same type of crime one receives in one U.S. state could be quite different from the punishment in another state. Such differences could be even more pronounced between various countries. This guy obviously screwed up, and he got exactly what he deserved.
By CL on April 21st, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I must congratulate poster #1 for managing to survive in Russia. Given the virtual 3rd world state of that country it is quite an accomplishment. And internet access too! Of course, based upon his simplistic post he might not be older than 12 or 13.
By JENIFER on April 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
The Judge said that she believed he was telling the truth!!!!! She said He was honest about the hunting that the two friends had done alot together. It was not a gun, how was he going to kill someone with shells? I understand they call It smuggling weapons!! I live in Alabama. And we are a very laid back place around here. I went to the nascar races where this man lives, and I just thought we were country here. But these people are way more country than we are in the south. My point Is that sometimes us real country people dont use are heads like we should. My husband and I are going to coasta rica for the first time. I have never been on a plane before I’m so scared! But this story is helping me because I have been searching and, searching trying to find out the does and donts. I hope I get It right. It’s true that the man should have come foward right away about the shells. He should have went through customs and ask them to tell him the law! I dont believe that he should be sent to jail for three years. I do agree maybe he should be barred from Russia, then sent home to his family and church!!!!!! I agree with some of the satements on here, but I think It was a little harsh for him. I also hope someone here where we live will try to help him! But Pakistan is a really strick place, and today they released one of the top leaders that has killed their people, and our soliders, and Afghanistans people also. It doesnt make any sense to me at all. Russia Is really hard on people, I really didnt know that until now. I have never written on one of these before and I sure dont want to offend anyone. So If I have I’m sorry!! I just wanted to say how I felt about It. I know we have free speach here! sometimes It’s good on certain things, and sometimes I think people get carried away with It and abuse It every once in awhile. I do hope that people here will use their free speach and protest this, but in a peaceful way. “Do the right thing.” If he Is a man of “GOD” and he hangs on to his faith, and prayers “GOD” will find away for him to come home to his family and church.
By Spike on April 21st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Robert Hayward – if that imam is penalized in any way, there will be millions of rabid jihadists storming American-tied businesses all over the Middle Easts, and Christian clergy will be murdered, while we would be lectured at home by the ACLU and every Arab-American and Islamic “rights” organizations, including those groups who want to disarm AMERICAN CITIZENS, about the need for “understanding” and “tolerance”.
Fuck understanding and tolerance. We give it to the world, along with the lives of good American soldiers and billions of our tax dollars, but they sure as hell don’t have to “tolerate” or “understand” US.
If the world wants tolerance from America, I say let’s show ‘em a little tolerance.
As in the statistical tolerance for wind drag of our ICBMS and cruise missiles as we do what worked so well back in Reagan’s days – put a little fear into the bastards around the world. Kill ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out.
By David Loudin on April 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 am
As a member of Pastor Miles’ Church and one who has gone hunting with him in the past, I feel it necessary to post some information here to try and clear up any misunderstanding.
Pastor Miles checked with the Airline on which he flew prior to departure about the requirements for transportation of small arms ammunition and was told that what he was doing would be fine. What he neglected to do was check with the Russian authorities about what he was required to do upon arriving in Russia. It was his understanding (based upon what the airline told him) that all he had to do was declare it to customs upon arrival; which he did. What he didn’t know was what declarartion actually meant and that without proper paperwork filed in advance a verbal declaration is useless and the same as doing nothing. If he had filed the proper paperwork with Russia prior to arrival and carried the same with him for presentation at customs, then there wouldn’t have been any problem. Thus, he is effectively being prosecuted for an administrative error… that being said, he did break the law and has received the minimum punishment for that offense. The “rest of the story” is that this is normal procedure for the Russian criminal system. He has been convicted and sentanced by a presiding judge and must now file an appeal to have the special circumstances heard that can and (we pray) should be used to minimize his sentance. This can take up to 30 days which brings us to the biggest problem the Church and people who care about Phillip have to deal with… the lack of expediency. The Russian court system does NOT get in a hurry about anything, they have no right to a speedy trial and the accused have very little rights that we are accustomed to in America. In fact, though a little loose in the translation, the accused are guilty until proven innocent versus our creed to the opposite. Pastor Phillip has known all of this all along and has been cooperating with the authorities at every turn. He made a mistake and now he’s paying the price for it… he holds true to his failth in God and that when his work ministering to the prisoners, guards and anyone else who will listen over there is done that he will be delivered back to his family and congregation. He is not being persecuted for his faith, he is not being persecuted for being an American and the Russian authorities have afforded him every convenience they are allowed by the laws in effect. So this is not a question of tolerance or stupidity, it was an honest mistake made by a humble man who is now and who will continue to serve the Lord first and foremost.
Also, the State Department IS involved and is continuing to do everything in their power to expedite the situation. Senator Lindsey Graham has made multiple trips to Moscow and the American Embassy is doing everything they can to make Pastor Phillip as comfortable as possible.
One last thing… equating this to the problems in the Middle East is entirely self effacing and does not address the issue. Please don’t bog down a valid source of information with flaming posts about situations that have nothing to do with happened to an honorable man.
By B. Kennedy on April 24th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Thankyou Mr. Loudin. We the people fo Abundant Life Church in Florence S.C are praying for Pastor Miles and his family as well.