How the country died: Terrible facts about Russia in the 90s
In the 90s of the last century, Russia declared its independence from the Soviet Union and its dissolution and firmly embarked on the path of market reforms. The formation of an independent Russian Federation was accompanied by an unprecedented fall economics, impoverishment of the population and an unprecedented revelry of banditry.
“Privatization" of the whole country
If you believe the classics, then in a capitalist society, the initial accumulation of capital always occurs in a criminal way. And Russia was no exception to this rule. The robbery of the population and the concentration of capital began as early as the sunset of the USSR. The first sign, and quite well-fed, was the so-called “Pavlovian” monetary reform, when Soviet citizens were beautifully and elegantly deprived of their savings.
And after the collapse of the Union, the team of “young reformers” led by Chubais was also deftly able to organize the transfer of state property into the hands of the “most worthy”. True, this happened under the "sauce" of universal equality and justice.
And a voucher became a tool for a relatively honest taking of money from the population. This document confirmed the right of a Russian citizen to a small piece of state property. When they first appeared, they said that for the voucher it was possible to buy two new Volga cars. Then the price fell to two boxes of vodka. The fall continued, and soon the cost settled on two bottles of "strong".
At the same time, state property, which became private, began to concentrate in the hands of particularly dexterous characters. So one of the first oligarchs appeared in Russia.
Currency and financial operations
Until the summer of 1992, the dollar went at the official rate of the Soviet era, that is, about 56 cents. Of course, it was unrealistic to buy the coveted green pieces of paper at such a price, and the speculative course was significantly different from the official one. Surely on this difference someone "warmed up."
And then, almost simultaneously, the dollar rose 222 times and reached 125 rubles. Then there were "money changers" involved in the exchange of currencies. These were both local residents and foreign students. Naturally, they were “roofed”. The bandits or the police were engaged in this. The main difference between some of the others was the presence or absence of shoulder straps. Although it had to be shared, the currency traders did not remain in the loser. Their daily earnings often exceeded the monthly salary of a simple hard worker.
Salaries, despite their constant and significant growth, could not keep up with rising prices. Given the fact that inflation in the country has reached unprecedented proportions, the population began to keep their savings, who they had, in hard currency. Therefore, the currency traders did not have a shortage of clients.
The financial pyramids have blossomed violently. The most famous was, of course, MMM, which robbed about 10 million Russians. Although, on the other hand, people carried their funds to scammers voluntarily, without coercion. Moscow alone brought to the MMM box office $ 50 million daily.
The development of domestic prostitution
Along with the advent of foreign currency in the hands of the population and the opening of borders, currency prostitution also appeared in our country. It existed before, but not on such a scale. This profession was considered honorable and respected. Currency prostitutes of the 90s were better off than wives of the party nomenclature of the 80s. According to the results of surveys among schoolgirls, the profession of a currency prostitute was one of the ten most popular.
And in general, a difficult financial situation brought to the panel thousands of Russian girls. According to some reports, in the 90s there were about 180 thousand “priestesses of love” in Russia, of whom one in six worked in Moscow.
At the same time, previously unprecedented varieties of this profession appeared: male and child prostitution.
Gangster times
Now, speaking of the 90s, they primarily recall the rampant crime. Private enterprise began to appear in the country. The so-called "bandits" began to impose a tribute to him right there. To calmly conduct their affairs, they were engaged in bribing law enforcement officers.
Criminals established certain rules, which he himself often violated. This led to bloody showdowns between rival factions. At that time, there were much more cases of murders with the use of firearms and explosives in the country than during the USSR.
Except in the "internecine wars", they could take their lives, for example, for refusing to pay the "roof". They could also be killed in order to appropriate an apartment, especially in a prestigious area. Only in Moscow killed about 15 thousand elderly, single apartment owners.
Endangered Russia
Demographic statistics at that time were disappointing. According to estimates of deputies from the Communist Party from 1992 to 1998, the country lost 4,2 million people. Every year, the population of Russia was reduced by 300 thousand. A particularly scary picture was observed in villages and small towns. It is estimated that in the country about 20 thousand villages have become deserted.
For the pension that the elderly received, it was very difficult to survive. She was below the real cost of living.
The increase in alcoholism in the country was accompanied by an influx of cheap foreign alcohol. Often people are poisoned by various surrogates.
Another problem of the 90s was the increase in the number of street children. This figure can only be compared with the post-war years, when during the Great Patriotic War a large number of children were left orphans. According to some estimates, in Russia in the 80s there were about 2 million homeless children.
How did the Russians survive
In the 90s, the country's economy was in a deep crisis. Closed thousands of industrial enterprises and research institutes. The people who worked there were left without a livelihood. Therefore, many Russians engaged in trade.
The shuttle business was very popular. Shuttles traveled abroad for clothes, shoes, cosmetics abroad, bringing goods in large bags and trading in markets.
Pensioners engaged in small street trading, selling cigarettes, seeds and other trifles.
There were even creepy entrepreneurs. For example, morgue workers and forensic experts have established trafficking in human organs.
In general, in the country everyone survived as best he could. And survived. Since then, much has changed, mainly for the better. But many unsolved problems, rooted in those times, also remained.
“Privatization" of the whole country
If you believe the classics, then in a capitalist society, the initial accumulation of capital always occurs in a criminal way. And Russia was no exception to this rule. The robbery of the population and the concentration of capital began as early as the sunset of the USSR. The first sign, and quite well-fed, was the so-called “Pavlovian” monetary reform, when Soviet citizens were beautifully and elegantly deprived of their savings.
And after the collapse of the Union, the team of “young reformers” led by Chubais was also deftly able to organize the transfer of state property into the hands of the “most worthy”. True, this happened under the "sauce" of universal equality and justice.
And a voucher became a tool for a relatively honest taking of money from the population. This document confirmed the right of a Russian citizen to a small piece of state property. When they first appeared, they said that for the voucher it was possible to buy two new Volga cars. Then the price fell to two boxes of vodka. The fall continued, and soon the cost settled on two bottles of "strong".
At the same time, state property, which became private, began to concentrate in the hands of particularly dexterous characters. So one of the first oligarchs appeared in Russia.
Currency and financial operations
Until the summer of 1992, the dollar went at the official rate of the Soviet era, that is, about 56 cents. Of course, it was unrealistic to buy the coveted green pieces of paper at such a price, and the speculative course was significantly different from the official one. Surely on this difference someone "warmed up."
And then, almost simultaneously, the dollar rose 222 times and reached 125 rubles. Then there were "money changers" involved in the exchange of currencies. These were both local residents and foreign students. Naturally, they were “roofed”. The bandits or the police were engaged in this. The main difference between some of the others was the presence or absence of shoulder straps. Although it had to be shared, the currency traders did not remain in the loser. Their daily earnings often exceeded the monthly salary of a simple hard worker.
Salaries, despite their constant and significant growth, could not keep up with rising prices. Given the fact that inflation in the country has reached unprecedented proportions, the population began to keep their savings, who they had, in hard currency. Therefore, the currency traders did not have a shortage of clients.
The financial pyramids have blossomed violently. The most famous was, of course, MMM, which robbed about 10 million Russians. Although, on the other hand, people carried their funds to scammers voluntarily, without coercion. Moscow alone brought to the MMM box office $ 50 million daily.
The development of domestic prostitution
Along with the advent of foreign currency in the hands of the population and the opening of borders, currency prostitution also appeared in our country. It existed before, but not on such a scale. This profession was considered honorable and respected. Currency prostitutes of the 90s were better off than wives of the party nomenclature of the 80s. According to the results of surveys among schoolgirls, the profession of a currency prostitute was one of the ten most popular.
And in general, a difficult financial situation brought to the panel thousands of Russian girls. According to some reports, in the 90s there were about 180 thousand “priestesses of love” in Russia, of whom one in six worked in Moscow.
At the same time, previously unprecedented varieties of this profession appeared: male and child prostitution.
Gangster times
Now, speaking of the 90s, they primarily recall the rampant crime. Private enterprise began to appear in the country. The so-called "bandits" began to impose a tribute to him right there. To calmly conduct their affairs, they were engaged in bribing law enforcement officers.
Criminals established certain rules, which he himself often violated. This led to bloody showdowns between rival factions. At that time, there were much more cases of murders with the use of firearms and explosives in the country than during the USSR.
Except in the "internecine wars", they could take their lives, for example, for refusing to pay the "roof". They could also be killed in order to appropriate an apartment, especially in a prestigious area. Only in Moscow killed about 15 thousand elderly, single apartment owners.
Endangered Russia
Demographic statistics at that time were disappointing. According to estimates of deputies from the Communist Party from 1992 to 1998, the country lost 4,2 million people. Every year, the population of Russia was reduced by 300 thousand. A particularly scary picture was observed in villages and small towns. It is estimated that in the country about 20 thousand villages have become deserted.
For the pension that the elderly received, it was very difficult to survive. She was below the real cost of living.
The increase in alcoholism in the country was accompanied by an influx of cheap foreign alcohol. Often people are poisoned by various surrogates.
Another problem of the 90s was the increase in the number of street children. This figure can only be compared with the post-war years, when during the Great Patriotic War a large number of children were left orphans. According to some estimates, in Russia in the 80s there were about 2 million homeless children.
How did the Russians survive
In the 90s, the country's economy was in a deep crisis. Closed thousands of industrial enterprises and research institutes. The people who worked there were left without a livelihood. Therefore, many Russians engaged in trade.
The shuttle business was very popular. Shuttles traveled abroad for clothes, shoes, cosmetics abroad, bringing goods in large bags and trading in markets.
Pensioners engaged in small street trading, selling cigarettes, seeds and other trifles.
There were even creepy entrepreneurs. For example, morgue workers and forensic experts have established trafficking in human organs.
In general, in the country everyone survived as best he could. And survived. Since then, much has changed, mainly for the better. But many unsolved problems, rooted in those times, also remained.
Information