Pickpocket: We All Think That It Will Never Happen To Us! (Part 2 – Militsiya Experience)

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday I started a series of posts about the Visa trip that I just made to Ukraine. (Part 1) Today we will have Part 2 of that series. Today lets talk about what the first thing that you should do after having something stolen from you in Ukraine.

Being from America and even with my experience in Moscow, Russia. You call the police or as they say here in this part of the world – Militsiya! I reported the incident within 5 minutes of it happening and this started a whole day of total Stupidity! (With a capital S)

I reported it to the Metro Police at the station: That got about as far as give us 1000 hryvnia and we will try to help. (“Try” he said and 1000 hryvnia is way over a hundred dollars) The next was cops on the streets of Ukraine. They were the nicest and directed to a precinct to report such cases. (Never found the precinct though, but the street cops showed real concern and really it was not their jurisdiction.) I then tried the next metro station police and got the – This is not our problem look – Then I went to my hotel and got directions to another precinct – There I got the – get away because we are busy attitude – (I looked around and they were busy alright – eating donuts and cookies – sound familiar to us Americans) Then I called the American Embassy and talked to a nice gentleman about the situation – He directed me to another precinct and said that they can help me. (By the way The American Vice President, Joe Biden was in Ukraine. This caused me huge delays and issues trying to get things done. The Embassy was closed while he was there… ???) – I went to where the American Embassy directed me to the police – You guessed it – Do Not Bother Us, We Are Busy, How About Bribe Money? We Could Try With The Correct Incentive!

Since I am a anti-incentive sort of guy when it comes to my and Svet’s money. I gave up on trying to do the correct thing.

I decided to do it my way! I realized that the Ukraine police would and could not solve any issues. I will say with all honesty that they (Ukraine Militsiya) make the Russian Militsiya look fantastic!

I proceeded back to the hotel get some rest and good food – then proceed at 6 am the next morning to tackle the issues one step at a time.

Part 3 is a continuation of what happened next when I go to the American Embassy in Ukraine…

PS: One important fact – When you are pick-pocketed you had something stolen not robbed. Report correctly because they get bent out of shape if reported wrong. Robbed is by weapon and stolen is like theft. (I myself felt robbed, stolen, violated, and insulted)

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comments always welcome.

Russia Today: The New US Administration is the same as the Old US Administration!

Retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski gives us her view points on what the Obama administration is really doing…

I see a lot more upper military starting to step forward and express their opinions on what is happening in America.

Very good video from Russia Today!

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Why is U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden in Georgia and Ukraine?

While I was in Ukraine, I had the unfortunate blessing of being in Ukraine at the same time as the U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden. As Biden flapped his mouth with all earnest in Georgia and Ukraine. The Obama administration learned what kind of reject that Biden is or did they?

Seems that any administration that throws their full support behind the two presidents of Ukraine and Georgia has no problem allowing Biden to flap his same mindset jaws and stir up issues in this part of the world. I am starting to understand that the American Administration of the USA has a real lack of abilities to see past a cold war attitude or any attitude for that matter…

Of course Hillary Clinton came out quickly and said “Washington views Russia, as a great country.” Now if Russia had done something wrong in Americas eyes then they would have expressed that dissatisfaction 14,000 times and hour. But when the Vice President makes statements in Ukraine and Georgia against Russia. Causing issues that have negating effects to any and all work that Obama tried to accomplish in Russia. We get one – Hillary expression of wisdom.

Then this is when I realize that the American political system has reached the lowest levels obtainable for a government. (It is called the gutter and sewer)

I want you to realize and think that while Americans are losing their jobs left and right. That while the government is bailing out Wall street at every drop of the dollar.

Our government has just made sure that Georgia is going to be rearmed with more modern weapons to the tune of 1.4 billion and that Ukraine has been given billions (2) in military concessions to help Georgia and election money for the upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine.

Since when did the American people become less important than countries like Georgia and Ukraine? Those billions are needed back home to care for the homeless and starving…

On any given night in all of America, anywhere up to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

On any given night in just New York City, an estimated 36,000 American children and adults will sleep in homeless shelters. Untold others sleep in the streets and parks and darkest corners of the American dream.

So lets build the military up in Georgia and Ukraine….

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comments always welcome.

PS: Biden just said the truth about real feelings from the Administration. Biden is more trust worthy than the rest at least he tells it like it is. Nothing worse than a politician that smiles and says Hi – when he means “Go to Hell!”

Pickpocket: We All Think That It Will Never Happen To Us! (Part 1)

Hey Everyone,

I was drinking that wonderful cup of coffee this morning and really was happy to be back in Moscow, Russia.

Today I am going to start talking about the arrival part of my Ukraine Visa trip. (Part 1) (Part 2)

We are going to start with having our wallet stolen…

I had just traveled all night on a train from Moscow to Kiev. I had a suit case in one hand and a computer case in the other hand. I had a pouch that held my passport around my waist.

I squeezed into a very crowded metro, (subway) car that was packed like sardines. That is when I got pick pocketed. I stepped off the car with about 30 other people and rushed with the crowd to the station exit. As I was exiting the station I always have a habit of reaching down and feeling for my pouch. As I did the worst feeling in the world came over me. My wallet was gone.

I felt like a fool. I had been taken by one of the oldest professions around. The pickpocket-er!

I was lucky – I have learned over the years to travel with important documents kept separate. Like keep your passport separate from your drivers license. Keep a copy of your passport separate from the original passport. Keep credit cards separate from money. Otherwise do not put all eggs in the same basket…

So I had my passport stolen, the migration card (that is so important when you cross the Ukraine border), pictures of my kids and my sweetie (Svet) and some cash.

After regrouping and checking out the damages, I realized that it could have been much worse. I had a copy of my passport in my computer case. (That got me into the hotel with no problems) My credit cards are in another wallet in the suitcase. (That was the money issue solved.)

I went to the metro police and reported it immediately, (but that is tomorrows story).

This was just the start of a long week of very interesting escapades. My motto became “Just take it one day at a time!”

Stay tuned because it gets interesting…

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comments always welcome.