Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

Against the background of the total deficit in the USSR there were people who lived in the "grand style" - they were available foreign goods, expensive restaurants and luxury life. They did not occupy leadership positions, were not party workers. These people specialize in illegal currency transactions. But there was in their beautiful and comfortable life, and the other side - the penalty for currency speculators in the USSR was very strict, in some cases, "the kings of the black market" could lose their lives.

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

The monetary policy of the socialist countries

The Soviet Union had a financial system in which foreign money is only used in the commission of foreign economic transactions. Domestically, all the calculations were carried out only with the help of Soviet money. Currency transactions were the prerogative of the state and citizens who have tried to enrich themselves with the help of foreign money, it will automatically become criminals. They were called the "money changers".

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

Since 1917, the country began to pursue those who buy and sell currencies. In 1921 he issued a decree SNK RSFSR, according to which all organizations and citizens were forbidden to perform foreign exchange transactions. Thus, the State Bank has secured a monopoly on the use of foreign money.

NEP period

The New Economic Policy has made its own adjustments. In 1922 abolished the duty of the citizens to take the currency values ​​to public authorities. However, a year later it went pretty controversial decree. On the one hand, it provides broad rights to use the currency, but on the other it sanctioned the removal of internal trade. In 1927, virtually disappeared currency regulation, there was a monopoly of the State Bank. January 7, 1937 issued a decree, finally secured a right of the state bank. According to him, there is a new item numbered 25, equating currency manipulation to state crimes in the penal code.

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

Posters of the NEP

Shops "Birch" - a Soviet time warp

In times of scarcity shops "Birch" was fabulous oases, inviting its wide range of rare goods. It meant they were only for foreign visitors, and all calculations were carried there in a foreign currency or special checks, which became the subject of speculation.

Ordinary citizens of the USSR all this luxury was not available. Buy something imported, deficit can be in three ways. The first - to occupy the post of the big boss, or be close to him. It is the most profitable option. For this category of citizens have been opened in all the way spetsmagaziny and distributors.

The second option - an overseas trip. But residents of the USSR allowed to change the currency of such a small amount that had to choose - or live a normal life and eat, or to save on everything, to buy and bring home the imported item. Slightly more favorable position were those who went to work abroad. Earned money that they can be exchanged for special checks, which on returning home could pay in stores with imported goods.

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

So look inside shops for foreigners

But if neither the first nor the second is not an option, there was only the most risky - go to pay homage to those who had secretly imported items in stock or foreign currency.

Runners, trotters, patrons and merchants

Currency dealers were special, the highest caste among speculators. They had the highest incomes. Operation scheme was conceived in every detail, currency fraud involved in groups. On view were the representatives of the lower - "runners" or "trotters". They are constantly in the places of stay of foreign tourists, trying to engage them in return. For example, buying from an unsuspecting foreigner hundred dollars at the fixed rate (in 1970-80 - it's 60 cents for 1 dollar), they resold them 10 times more expensive. Net income from the transaction amounted to an average of 500 rubles. Such money Soviet worker could earn at least 2-3 months.

According to official police statistics, large currency group had a turnover of hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. But the punishment in the case of exposure was very harsh. Until the 60s the perpetrators were condemned to 8 years, then the term was extended to 15 years and issued a decree providing for the death penalty in 1961.

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

A newspaper clipping with the official exchange rate in the USSR

"The kings of the black market," and "It Rokotoff"

Law enforcement agencies were constantly working to apprehend the criminals involved in foreign exchange transactions. Despite the many small cases of arrests, administrative penalties, to catch and expose the leaders of groups for a long time without success.

"The kings of the black market" successfully disguised, changed the place of appearances, inventing sophisticated money transfer schemes and information. The most famous big money changers of the Soviet era began Jan Roars (aka "Ian Oblique"), Vladislav Faibishenko nicknamed "Vlad" and Dmitry Yakovlev, whose specific circles known as "DimDimycha". All of them began their journey with a fine fartsovki, but went into the taste and sights for more. Lived "kings" in a big way - sleep till noon, ate in the most prestigious expensive restaurants, dressed in style, boozed, often changed their mistresses. Roars had a unique insight and always felt they were being followed. Catch them was very difficult, which is why "It Rokotoff" became one of the most well-known and high-profile operations, the Soviet secret police.

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

Jan Roars

On that fateful day Roars left the suitcase in the luggage room and pretended that he sat in a suburban train. But in fact, he jumped out of it at the last minute and making sure there is no surveillance (which operatives removed, to lull the offender) is back for a suitcase full of money. At the time of issue in line came the man with a pair of skis, which in fact turned out to be a KGB agent and wrung his hand Rokotova upon delivery of the suitcase to him. Immediately arrived to help other law enforcement officers. From understanding what is happening and annoyance from his puncture "Yang Oblique" bitten his hand and yelled at the whole station.

King was detained after arrest and his accomplices. "Vlad" was caught red-handed, when it found a large amount of rubles and British pounds. "DimDimych" was detained while receiving contraband parcels from Finland. At the apartment Rokotoff currency found half a million Soviet rubles. All three faces imprisonment of 8 years, after further review period was increased to 15 years.

But things did not go as it should. The fate of the "kings of the black market," interjected Khrushchev himself. Being on a business trip in West Berlin, he rebuked the local authorities in the fight against speculation ineffective. He received the barb that such currency trading scope, as in Moscow, not in any socialist country. Secretary General strongly offended by it. Returning home, he asked him to report to all the circumstances of the case Rokotoff. Angered by the size of production, which could get the money changers, he began to demand for the culprits of the death penalty. Trying to justify their claims, Khrushchev referred to, and the huge damage that was caused to the economy, and that the punishment should be severe to no one else dared to like. Another trump card in his speech was a letter ordinary Soviet workers, who allegedly demanded the death penalty for criminals. Secretary General criticized the work of judges, prosecutors, investigators, which, in his opinion, is too soft attitude to money changers.

Beautiful life, and retribution for her Soviet currency speculators

The meeting on the case Rokotoff

Disobey the general secretary no one dared - it is the third time sent for review. Now Roars, Faibishenko and Yakovlev were sentenced to death.