The PBN Company
Unofficial translation

The abbreviated name of the Militia's Service headed by Colonel Sergey Bespalko is too complicated - UBPSPR and IAZ (the Directorate for Fight Against Consumer Rights Violation and Implementation of Administrative Legislation).

A.: We are to a certain extent responsible for products, which are bought by the Moscow Oblast's inhabitants at the food markets. However, we are not their guardian angels. First of all, our service is rather small in staff. Despite this, our officers are very actively taking actions throughout the entire Moscow Oblast. Over the past year, our officers together with officers from other agencies discovered over 8,000 economic crimes, the major part (6,216 cases) of which is the deception of customers. Second, we would want the customers be our allies. We would want them at last become aware that while buying something they are protected by the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights". Be real citizens. Don't keep silent when you are brazenly deceived. You are entitled to demand from the seller a license, certificate of conformity and quality certificate. You also have the right to check when and where the goods were made name of the manufacturer, their expiration date, as well as whether the scales are precisely adjusted. You know, there are control scales at any market. No doubt, the administration of any market or shop will support all your legal claims. Contact us more often at the Trading Inspectorate, the Department for Fight Against Economic Crime and departments for the protection of consumer rights.

Q.: In addition to this activity you take other wide-scale actions. Why are they so numerous? What is the outcome?

A.: The consumer market is too criminalized. It's no coincidence that there's a saying: "If you don't deceive, you won't sell." This is a characteristic of Russia and the CIS countries. That's why we pay such attention to this problem on such a wide-range. During the two-month operation "Supply" we inspected about 45,000 sites, discovered over 2,000 crimes and nearly 71,000 administrative offences, confiscated 260 units of fire-arms, and withdrew over fifteen tons of vodka, wine and cognac from sale. We imposed fines totalling 2,190,000 rubles. By the way, fire-arms and drugs are seized every time. For example, in September of 2001, during the ten-day operation "Supply-Mercury" we discovered and seized seven kilograms of heroin and other drugs, as well as around 300 units of fire-arms. Such operations as "Teenager-Public Catering", "Pharmacologist" and "Market" also give considerable positive results. Therefore, we are not talking about an excessive number of actions on our part.

Of course, the working load on the militia is increasing many times. It is good that the district militia officers help out. It is necessary to observe all requirements of the law during inspections. For instance, at stores where control purchases of goods with expired consumption dates are performed we have to state in the record of investigative actions on the scene of the incident the absence of a legal document for writing off these goods. This document has to be signed by both the owner of the enterprise and the vendor. Then a document on a random purchase check is drawn up; the customer, individual businessman, and the vendor are obliged to give explanations; copies of license, work contract, and all kinds of invoices are obtained on demand. However, this is the fastest way (using the so-called protocol way) of getting the documents to court. The guilty party is punished for deceiving the customer quite fast, and there is no bureaucratic delay.

Q.: Trading old stock - is it greed or is it a certain necessity?

A.: It is both. The population's purchasing capacity is reducing. Goods find no market and go past their sell-by-date. Businessmen do not want to suffer losses. That is why they commit these crimes.

Greediness is what drives those who live off deceiving elderly people and children. They use underweight weights, place magnets under scales, and tie rubber bands to them. They think that a pensioner will not be able to see this, and a child will not suspect anything. The quantities of under-weighed goods are significant. I have seen this a number of times during random purchase checks when a sales lady cheated in weighing all her customers with a courteous smile on her face. This method is simple and well tested.

People resort to various tricks and methods. Illegal use of trademarks causes the most damage. All illegally produced vodka, for instance, is being sold under trademarks that are famous in the country. Hundreds of thousands of bottles with suspicious hog wash that are sold under Stolichnaya, Osobaya, Moskovskaya, Russkaya, and other vodka trademarks are being confiscated annually on our line alone. Moreover, besides us, a specialized subdivision of the GUVD - operational search unit, which has uncovered cases involving hundreds of tons of counterfeit wine and vodka produced in basements. Nonetheless, despite the powerful obstacles, large-scale operational and preventive measures, counterfeit vodka reaches the stores' counters. Everyone, who is involved in criminal business gets his share of the profit. Maybe state monopoly on wine and vodka production and sale of alcoholic beverages as well as spirit production is needed after all. It is very easy to counterfeit any label, any excise stamp, a special mark or a trademark with the high level of printing equipment now available. Whenever we have a complaint to the vendor regarding counterfeit goods, he or she pokes some documents into your face and indignantly says: "Here is the quality certificate, here are the identification marks. No one knew that the goods were counterfeit!"

In a situation like this the most unbelievable things appear on the counters, such as a car window cleaner masquerading as 40 percent proof "Moscow Special Vodka." Cheers! To your health! You will be very lucky, if you stay alive.