Dear Steemit,
When I was a student, I saw on the shelves of my university's bookstore brochure
"Ridiculous laws all over the world"
It cost 1$ and contained funny legal acts of the USA, Australia, China and many European countries, but not Russia.
So I decided to fix it and made a post about the most absurd laws in Russian Federation .
Firstly I should notice that I'm going to speak about only acting or acted laws in Russia. Peculiarity of Russian politics is that being successful politician means being popular and active.
That's why deputies of Russian Parliament bravely initiate the laws that enforce to follow moral duties in foreign trips, recognize embryo as citizens, pay tax for being unemployed or forbid birds of passage to leave the territory of Russia.
This laws will never be enforced unlike the following list.
1.License to print.
In 1994 Russian Government enacted the Rules of registration color printing and copying devices . Aim of these Rules was to protect newborn Russia from counterfeiters and fraudsters. According to this act, in case of buying one of these devices you should take it to the police station and register your item in special catalog.
While I was writing this article I asked different people, had they heard about it or not. Nobody had even known. Although Rules were cancelled only in 2009.
2.I raise my flag and go to jail
Russian flag is not so popular in Russia. Especially, when you had no rights to use it. According to the federal law " about state flag of Russian federation ", you can't use for private purposes.
Moreover using Russian flag in other purposes than law permits is administrative crime and punished by fine. On the other hand, I can use flags of any other countries - they are fully allowed.
3.Administrative antiquity
Let's imagine the situation: I am seller in souvenir shop, you are - foreign tourist . You examine the stand with souvenir plates then I come to you and ask: " Good afternoon, sir! Can I help you? " Suddenly policemen enter the shop and take me to the police station.
Sounds absurdly. Anyway, Soviet Codex of Administrative Crimes remained in force until 2001.
According to the article 164.3 , trade offers to the foreigners considered as administrative crime and punished by fine. I can understand why this article was in Soviet period, but I have no idea why it wasn't cancelled before new Codex was enforced!
The same situation was with the article 152 which fined people in case of buying bread in state grocery stores for feeding cattle or fowl. Millions of Russian people didn't know, that they used to live thug life.
4.Stalin's legacy
Russian legal system contains some laws and government acts that were enforced in Soviet period. One of them - Requisition and Confiscation law - active from 1927 till now .
According to the article 13, property of individual can be alienated for the state if citizen leaved the state for political reasons. There no laws in Russia that can explain the meaning of frase " political reasons ", but I guess it would be better to show your patriotic senses in case of long trips. For example, put Russian flag in the door... Oh wait.
5.Homosexual propaganda wants you.
In June 2013 Russian government established administrative responsibility for the propaganda of homosexual relations among minor in the article 6.21 of Codex of Administrative Crimes . This law not only stupid and unconstitutional but useless also. There no legal acts in Russian law that explains meaning of terms "homosexual", "sexual orientation", "sexual setting" and "distorted understanding about social equivalence between traditional and homosexual relations".
From the point of law this article is rubbish, according to practice of enforcement - too. The only will of legislator was to prevent gay parades.
(Shame)
6.Phytosanitary control for imported cars. Looking for bugs.
This legal act was entered into force on July 15, 2009. Russian agriculture control service and Federal Custom Service, who passed the law, explained that they had found 14 objects (includes silkworm and Japanese beetle) during collective inspection for the last two years before adoption.
The procedure of control consisted of visual inspection and further research in case of suspicions. For 20 days. Same day Federal Antimonopoly Service stated that act is illegal and had made it cancelled. Responsible agencies had concentrated on their main functions after 2,5 months of entomological expedition.
7.Car for parliamentarian
Russian parliamentarians usually use service transport with budget-paid drivers and blue flasher, which gives them right to break the tragic rules in case of necessity . They often abused this privilege and this situation lead to attempt state to motivate deputies use another transport.
In 2012 was established legal act which orders compensation receipt for parliamentarians that don't use service transport. Maximal compensation was 50$. Wage of deputy - approximately 10000$. Te result was predictable, I guess.
To sum up, we can say that most of this laws were inapplicable from the beginning or covering real legal intentions of legislator. I believe most of the laws are written by practice and not imposed someone.
What funny laws do you know? What strange legal acts are in your state? Please feel free to post a comment!
Thank you for attention!
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