The lookalikes of Stalin, Lenin, Russian tsars and other historical figures may be forced to pay taxes in Moscow. The Moscow City Duma proposed to regulate the activities of street actors.
Darya Okuneva investigates how a "wild" Lenin threatens tourists, and what happens if he obtains a permit.
For those who come from the Communist China, a Moscow tour is unthinkable without a photo with the leaders of the world proletariat, or more precisely, with their copies, but this doesn't bother the Chinese.
- Where are you from?
- I am from China.
The tourists' spirits get dejected when it comes to the price of the picture. The Communist leaders show the ugly side of the capitalism:
- 500 rubles (~$9) to me and 500 rubles to him.
- How much?!
- 500 each.
And monarchs show truly royal appetites:
- 1,000 rubles (~$18) from each of you, I said 1,000.
After this, the impression of Moscow gets hopelessly ruined.
Zhang Hahoes: "The actors were so friendly, but as soon as they talked about money, their faces changed. I wouldn't dare not to pay them".
The most famous Lenin in the Red Square, after the real one, of course, is Sergei Soloviev, a Twins Theater actor. He admits feeling ashamed for his colleagues.
Sergei Soloviev: "I'm working for the idea, one photo for 100 rubles (~$1.5), others simply extort money, take it out of tourists' wallets, threaten them".
Sergei "Lenin" and his comrade Arkady "Stalin" are registered as independent entrepreneurs, pay taxes, and even won lawsuits against the Central Administrative District Government, whose employees regularly fined the leaders for illegal trade.
Arkady Tokar: "We don't fall into this legal category. We'd have to sell things using a table or a cart... But we don't do anything of the kind: if someone wants a photo, here we are".
But as soon as Lenin and Stalin became legal, their competitors followed suit. The Red Square got divided into areas, each one occupied by doppelgangers of every kind.
Sergei Soloviev: "We have 8 Lenins, 5 Stalins, and countless queens and kings".
The deputies of the Moscow City Duma are going to restore order in this political scene.
Anton Paleev, Moscow City Duma: "We need to arrange a meeting with a few actors and discuss the cost of their services so that they announce them publicly".
Travel agencies and city guides would be notified of the announced price so that tourists know how much money they can expect to pay when going to Moscow.
Darya Okuneva, Boris Agapov, Saveli Matyukhin. Vesti.
