Cyclist against official - 2

Moscow residents refuse to let the high official’s car move in the lane for public transport

Simple people in Russia are definitely pissed off by the events in which officials put themselves above the law.

One of such recurring situations is disrespect toward traffic rules and/or special privileges on the road. Thus, recently in Saint Petersburg the motorcade of Dmitry Medvedev was met with obscene gestures from the drivers who were forced to wait in traffic jam.

But in some cases simple citizens win. One of such little “victories” was celebrated by the residents of Moscow on October 28. On the losing end was the lieutenant general of KGB in reserve Grigory Rapota, currently occupying the position of the State Secretary of the Union State.

[ Text and pictures from Dmitry Schedrin's blog ]

The incident took place when Mercedes with the license plate number A 596 MP (assigned to the State Secretary of the Union of Russia and Belarus, Grigory Rapota) was moving towards the Kremlin on the lane intended for public transport.

It should be noted that at the time the lane was blocked by police for the movement of the vehicle with detainees and riot police.

Bicycle vs Mercedes

One cyclist, unhappy with the fact that the official’s car tried to exploit the absence of public transport on the lane, didn’t agree to give it the way.

Cyclist against official

Nearby was the traffic police lieutenant who decided to consult with the driver, and the driver in turn consulted with his senior passenger.

Police stops Mercedes

Unprepared for such situations the police officer wished to hide from the witnesses’ eyes.

Traffic cop retreats

Therefore, instead of the cop it was up to the passers-by to stop the offender who tried to escape.

Passers-by stop the car

One of them explains to the Colonel of the 2nd operational regiment that the law is the same for everyone.

Citizen and cop

Meanwhile, police captain was still fighting for the “free passage of citizens”.

Police captain

During the forced stop someone “decorated” the official’s car with the white ribbon [ed: symbol of political opposition in Russia]

White ribbon on the car

In order to issue the ticket, the bravest lieutenant of traffic police was dispatched.

Bravest police lieutenant

People on the sidewalk are chanting – “Ticket!”

Writing ticket

Hiding behind the curtains is, as they say, “the person looking like” the State Secretary of the Union of Russia and Belarus.

Grigory Rapota hiding in the car

And here is the previously disappeared police lieutenant with the traffic offender who looks extremely surprised by the ticket.

High official - traffic offender

Video

Below is the video of this incident. Around 0:30 you can clearly hear people chanting “Ticket! Ticket!” At 1:00 a man approaches the car and says – “Come on! Get out, this is the people! Get out now!”

Afterword

The Mercedes driver got the fine for 3,000 rubles [ed: about 95 USD]. The spokeswoman of the State Secretary Elena Ovcharenko lied that Grigory Rapota was not in the car. But I saw him inside.

Comments of Russian netizens

bikeland:  The lieutenant’s career was short but bright! Карьера лейтенанта была короткой, но яркой!

bioplant:  Well done. But anyway, he threw out the ticket at the nearest corner.молодцы, на самом деле только протокол он в помойку выкинул за первым же углом

vek_gondurasov:  Nobody punctured the wheels??колёса не прокололи??

bog_oslovskij:  What about people with cameras and condoms on their chests who ran out into the street – they don’t violate?А люди с фотоаппаратами и гандонами на груди не нарушают ПДД, высыпав на проезжую часть?

[Note:  by "condoms" commenter means the white ribbons - symbol of opposition]

mister_myth:  It’s possibly the first time LIKE THIS!! Bravo!!!!ТАКОЕ, наверное, впервые!! Браво!!!!

warrior_gt:  I think that many of those who were there, also drive in the lanes for public transport, park on the sidewalk, speed and commit other violations. I wonder why they see only the violations of officials and not their own?Думаю, что многие из тех, кто там был, тоже ездят и по полосе для общественного транспорта, и паркуются на тротуарах, и скорость превышают и совершают другие нарушения. Меня интересует, почему они замечают нарушения только за чиновниками, а не за собой?

zambor (replying to the above):  They get fines for it, while the officials – not. They drive their own cars, and officials – the state Mercedes.Их за это штрафуют, чиновников – нет. Они ездят на своих, чиновники – на служебных мерседесах.

manul78:  Rapota is a former military… He probably has a personal weapon. Now he will start carrying it with him…Рапота – бывший военный… У него вероятно наградной ствол имеется. Теперь будет возить с собой…

The cyclist was lucky that there were many people with cameras around… In the less crowded areas of the Russian Federation he could be dumped on the sidewalk with a hole in his head…Повезло велосипедисту, что рядом народ был с камерами… В менее оживленных местах РФ можно в обочине оказаться с дыркой в башке…

generalermoloff:  Rapota is basically not a bad and harmless man, but probably the habit to classify people into serfs and top officials played a bad joke with him.Рапота в принципе не плохой и безобидный мужик, но видимо привычка разделять всех на смердов и высших чиновников сыграла с ним плохую шутку.

klopss:  That’s what the “opposition” is needed for! I don’t like you, but sometimes you can be useful.Вот для чего нужна ‘оппозиция’! Не люблю я вас, но ведь можете делом заняться.

sash_volk_off:  Good beginning.хорошее начало

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