The Black Sea: Ah… This is what people mean by Police Corruption

Well for a long time, from everyone I have met that is from Russia, I have heard about the rampant corruption. In fact while in the states we may be held back in many ways by the entitlement system of welfare we have created, the Russians in my opinion are held back by the entitlement felt by government officials. I saw on a couple occasions in my short trip several times that government employees shock down the average citizen. First when we went to the black sea RG’s own uncle had to pay a bribe to the local health inspector. It wasn’t a lot of money and it was not a trial for the man to pay it. What astounds me is that the official is so up front about doing this.

The second time I encountered this type of thing is when I tried to get through the small airport that we used at the black sea. After we walked right through security without even putting our bags through the metal detectors or x-rays, the official checking documents starting telling us that my documentation was wrong. Before long he had us step aside and called someone else out. The new official also looked at the documents and said they were wrong. Funny they were perfect when I left Moscow. The second official and my sister in-law argued a little then walked off to a nearby office. In the office I am told he asked for $100 for the problem to go away. She talked him down to $50 and we on our way.

The final time was when I was back in Moscow. We were at an attraction in the north end of the city and we were waiting in line at a street vendor to get food. A nice meat filled pastry of some sort. Well we ended up waiting in line forever because the guy who ran the trailer was behind it paying off a cop for something or another. Now I know that there are more than likely more than a few corrupt police in America. But I have never scene such blatant and routine strong arming by public officials for pay outs.

I certainly believe that this is one of the major problems that keeps Russia from truly takings its previous and traditional place as a power house in the worlds economy. If you pay off the inspector so you can build a shooty building, that building may collapse, become unusable, or the upkeep will cost twice as much even if you do the bare minimum. There are long term effects by cutting corners. I think that Russia is a country were everyone cuts as many corners as possible and tries to get away with as much as they can. I do not think that it is a lack of talent but an institutionalized way of handling everything in life. It really is too bad because there are so many good things in the country that this type of behavior brings my overall opinion of the country down when I think about it.