UMSL student stranded in Russia

[almaty 19]

The chancellor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, a Missouri congressman and a dozen researchers around the country are urging the release of a graduate student who has been stuck in Russia for more than two months.

Roxana Contreras, 29, an UMSL student and a Chilean citizen, has not been allowed to leave the city of Voronezh in southwestern Russia since airport authorities stopped her in mid-June for attempting to illegally export coins and military medals.

She bought the souvenirs from a street vendor at a flea market for $66 dollars, but she and her supporters say they are only worth $30. She said she did not know it was illegal and would be happy to pay a fine.

"The most ridiculous thing is these things are freely sold on the market, and I bought them in front of the police," she said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Advertisement

The artifacts, some of which are more than 50 years old, can only be exported by the "honored person" and heirs, according to a copy of the charges.

Now, she and her supporters are growing more frustrated as law enforcement authorities have not responded to her requests to set a court date and for a change of venue. In addition, immigration officials have been giving her a hard time about continually renewing her visa, which expires every 10 days, Contreras said.

Contreras and her supporters are increasingly worried that she could face the maximum penalty of seven years in prison for what they say is a minor infraction.

In a June letter to Voronezh authorities, UMSL Chancellor Thomas George urged "in the strongest terms" for the "embarrassing situation" to be resolved.

"This situation has endured too long … " he wrote. "We will not rest until Ms. Contreras is back on our campus."

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin has written two letters to the Russian ambassador in Washington, asking about the expected time frame for the conclusion of her case. Akin emphasized the importance of Contreras' research on the role of synchronization of brain activity in traumatically brain-injured patients. The study is in collaboration with researchers from Cornell University in New York.

"It is my understanding that in similar cases, contraband is rightfully confiscated, but that individuals are usually detained only for grave offenses," Akin wrote.

The press secretary for the Russian embassy in Washington said Tuesday that he was not familiar with Contreras' case.

The Chilean consulate in Moscow is also working on Contreras' behalf.

Contreras has been a graduate student in physics at UMSL since 2004. She lives in University City with her boyfriend.

In early June, she presented her work at a conference in Dresden, Germany, with Sonya Bahar, an UMSL biophysics professor and director of the Center for Neurodynamics.

While in Europe, Contreras decided to briefly visit some friends in Voronezh, Russia, where she had studied in 2001-2002.

Now, Contreras said, she is frustrated and exhausted.

"I'm just waiting, trying to be patient as much as possible," she said. "I keep waiting here with no answers at all. I just want to go home."

Contreras has found a lawyer and is living in an apartment in Voronezh until her case is resolved. She said she spends her time calling her lawyer every day, playing the guitar and reading.

"I stare at the ceiling," she said. "I don't do much. I run out of energy."

Bahar said she is growing worried that the people who are not moving on requests for a court date and other issues are the same ones who will be deciding Contreras' fate.

"It's this completely Kafka-esque situation," Bahar said.