Russians to cellist: strip
mainMessage from agent:
David Cohen played a concert last night in St. Petersburg with Bashmet, and now on his way back home. Authorities in Russia at the airport are not happy with documentation on cello although he has with him all official paperwork and photos.
They have confiscated cello, phone, luggage and want to do a strip search.
UPDATE: Happily all sorted out now, but this could be any one of us.
The strip searching part is outrageous, but as for the paperwork verifying part, one could only appreciate that if the instrument were to be stolen one day and the thief or buyer attempted to cross borders with it.
Can I volunteer?