Bribery and Hassle...Freedom for no human anywhere
"Молодой человек! Документы, пожалуйста."
This kind of crap happens in Russia. It especially happens in cities. Of course, in Moscow there could be the added need of bribery for wherever other reason. It's usually not so bad in Petersburg.
I handed over my passport for inspection.
"Работаешь? ...You work здесь?"
Well, sometimes. Generally, of course, but for myself and foreign entities and thus since I'm not on any contracts, I'm not actually working--freelance. Then I'm reporting and writing stories, etc.
"Синяя карта. Есть синяя карта?"
What are you talking about, I don't understand.
"Blue card."
I understand blue card, what do I need one for?
"Работа."
No, I don't need one. I don't work on contract or for anyone other than myself.
After about 20 minutes of me declaring that I don't understand (which I did, but know that he's wrong), he asks if I want to go to the police station. He asked this in both Russian and then in English. I ask why...in Russian. He again insists that I need that blue card.
Suddenly, here came another officer.
The senior briskly walked up and introduced himself as Sargent and the superior officer. He then began looking at my documents.
The junior fellow began to tell his account of how I was working without a "blue card". (Yes, if I were working under contract for any entity other than myself and in a direct capacity, then I would be required to have one of these cards. Which would also mean special registration and about 6 months of paperwork along with a necessity to stand in long lines of foreigners who probably also won't get in to see anyone that day. The system and bureaucracy are shit...worse than any university bureaucracy where they send you to four buildings for one damn signature.)
I interrupted the junior with the explanation that my girlfriend had filled out that paper and she believed that I should mark "work" on the migration card.
(All who enter Russia must fill out that migration card. Don't fool yourselves, Russian citizens don't have to fill out these card anymore, but 4 or 5 years ago, they did. They still have to register and such just like foreigners. The government keeps track of them or fines them and then tracks them for bribes until they get registered...and the United States of America is trying to implement similar programs of registration and citizen tracking as I write this!)
The Sargent looked up at me, then back at the other officer. He snatched the passport from the junior's hand and gave it to me. "До свидания."
Away I went with my passport, the junior saying good bye in English as I fled to the Metro escalator, down to the train where I could rush off to a meeting...late.
I noticed the Sargent moving in on his junior as I fled...escaping any more trouble and any need to pay bribes that I didn't have money for.
I knew he was in trouble when the Sargent jerked my passport out of his hand repeating the word "подруга."
I began to wonder if I should have said wife rather than girlfriend but then that may have left an ambiguous nationality for them to think my support was coming from.
It's these things that one man here says "give you goals and business ideas." He insists that when you find a problem in Russia, it's just a place to introduce a solution at a price. It's clearly worked for him and he often likes to discuss my ideas for making the city more efficient, as he is often doing the same. I've come to love the infrastructure of this city...and I like finding and solving its problems with theories of transport, housing, and business efficiencies. Still, I hate the bribery...but only really with police. (These days they are about the only ones bucking for them with me.)
One theory is that if the police in Russia were paid a decent salary, then they wouldn't try to bribe. A doctor sitting next to him in that discussion told him that the idea was bullshit, the police would just get a decent salary plus bribes to buy a few nice new toys. Sadly, bribery has been a part of the system so long that I think he's right.
But there are also many good officers who refuse to take a bribe. Two once took a bribe from me...only time ever...but they wouldn't do it while I was watching. They would only take it if my girlfriend paid. Silly really...but for the best. Others won't take them at all...and I like those people, as long as they're also objective.
Sometimes I find that same is missing from police in the United States...they often aren't objective.
Either way...I can see most of the world going downhill.
And I'm ready to move to Mars...cold or not.
This kind of crap happens in Russia. It especially happens in cities. Of course, in Moscow there could be the added need of bribery for wherever other reason. It's usually not so bad in Petersburg.
I handed over my passport for inspection.
"Работаешь? ...You work здесь?"
Well, sometimes. Generally, of course, but for myself and foreign entities and thus since I'm not on any contracts, I'm not actually working--freelance. Then I'm reporting and writing stories, etc.
"Синяя карта. Есть синяя карта?"
What are you talking about, I don't understand.
"Blue card."
I understand blue card, what do I need one for?
"Работа."
No, I don't need one. I don't work on contract or for anyone other than myself.
After about 20 minutes of me declaring that I don't understand (which I did, but know that he's wrong), he asks if I want to go to the police station. He asked this in both Russian and then in English. I ask why...in Russian. He again insists that I need that blue card.
Suddenly, here came another officer.
The senior briskly walked up and introduced himself as Sargent and the superior officer. He then began looking at my documents.
The junior fellow began to tell his account of how I was working without a "blue card". (Yes, if I were working under contract for any entity other than myself and in a direct capacity, then I would be required to have one of these cards. Which would also mean special registration and about 6 months of paperwork along with a necessity to stand in long lines of foreigners who probably also won't get in to see anyone that day. The system and bureaucracy are shit...worse than any university bureaucracy where they send you to four buildings for one damn signature.)
I interrupted the junior with the explanation that my girlfriend had filled out that paper and she believed that I should mark "work" on the migration card.
(All who enter Russia must fill out that migration card. Don't fool yourselves, Russian citizens don't have to fill out these card anymore, but 4 or 5 years ago, they did. They still have to register and such just like foreigners. The government keeps track of them or fines them and then tracks them for bribes until they get registered...and the United States of America is trying to implement similar programs of registration and citizen tracking as I write this!)
The Sargent looked up at me, then back at the other officer. He snatched the passport from the junior's hand and gave it to me. "До свидания."
Away I went with my passport, the junior saying good bye in English as I fled to the Metro escalator, down to the train where I could rush off to a meeting...late.
I noticed the Sargent moving in on his junior as I fled...escaping any more trouble and any need to pay bribes that I didn't have money for.
I knew he was in trouble when the Sargent jerked my passport out of his hand repeating the word "подруга."
I began to wonder if I should have said wife rather than girlfriend but then that may have left an ambiguous nationality for them to think my support was coming from.
It's these things that one man here says "give you goals and business ideas." He insists that when you find a problem in Russia, it's just a place to introduce a solution at a price. It's clearly worked for him and he often likes to discuss my ideas for making the city more efficient, as he is often doing the same. I've come to love the infrastructure of this city...and I like finding and solving its problems with theories of transport, housing, and business efficiencies. Still, I hate the bribery...but only really with police. (These days they are about the only ones bucking for them with me.)
One theory is that if the police in Russia were paid a decent salary, then they wouldn't try to bribe. A doctor sitting next to him in that discussion told him that the idea was bullshit, the police would just get a decent salary plus bribes to buy a few nice new toys. Sadly, bribery has been a part of the system so long that I think he's right.
But there are also many good officers who refuse to take a bribe. Two once took a bribe from me...only time ever...but they wouldn't do it while I was watching. They would only take it if my girlfriend paid. Silly really...but for the best. Others won't take them at all...and I like those people, as long as they're also objective.
Sometimes I find that same is missing from police in the United States...they often aren't objective.
Either way...I can see most of the world going downhill.
And I'm ready to move to Mars...cold or not.