A politically-loaded experiment involving a man walking through central Moscow with a replica of an AK-74 assault rifle has hit the Russian blogs. Not a single police officer reportedly stopped or questioned him.
Pavel Tarasov, apparently armed with an openly displayed automatic weapon, strolled through central Moscow, while Vadim Tsibankov took photos of him standing right next to police officers. Vadim describes the experience in a report which is currently top of the Russian blogosphere.
The blogger’s site – HERE
Full Story and more photos – HERE
In Soviet Russia, replica AK muzzle sweeps EVERYONE!
From what I can gather, open carry isn’t legal in Russia, so the fact no one batted an eyelash is interesting. If you ask me, that’s the way it should be though. The guy was just chilling with his buddies by the look of it, so even if it was real a real firearm, he obviously wasn’t a threat. I’m so sick of the “only police should carry guns” mentality. Thankfully even the people in the US that believe that nonsense still have to put up with a growing number part of the population that can’t afford armed security 24/7 so they decide to protect themselves.
Thoughts?
JUMP DOWN ↓ TO ADD ANOTHER
Everyone knew it was a replica because he put a fucking 7.62 mag into what is clearly a fixed stock AK-74.
In all seriousness though, it IS Russia we are talking about. Different culture, not the OMG A GUN! bullshit we get in western nations. I mean hell, you can get arrested in Canada if your kindergartener draws a picture of a gun.
Even though it is quite difficult to see, the correct magazine is in the replica.
“Different culture, not the OMG A GUN! bullshit we get in western nations.”
If that’s the case, then why was the experiment done then? There has to be some aversion somewhere for him to even think to do this.
Actually. There was no way for anyone to tell it was a replica. It’s just a slightly modified AKM, with AK-74 wood fore-stock and muzzle device. That’s why there was a 47-type mag in it.
As for the second bit, I agree. They allow Spetsnaz training to occur over there, as an example. This stuff doesn’t surprise them, as it does with us over here in the States. I, for one, am surprised he didn’t get his ass kicked though.
i also assumed that Russians (police at least) have a greater knowledge of all things ak than i could ever hope and could tell it was a pr stunt so decided to ignore the trolls
According to my Russian friend, in high school, her class got a demonstration on the function and assembly of small arms including AKs. So the average Russian is 200% more familiar with guns than the average urban American.
It is difficult to put into words how awesome this.
and by urban you mean…
People who live in cities, as opposed to good-ole’ squirrel-huntin’ country boys who have been using guns since they could walk.
It’s almost certainly an ‘MMG’ – a ‘real’ AK made by Izmash but with deactivated working parts. So no way to tell that it isn’t real.
This is what they say in the article. There is no way to tell it from an actual AK unless you disassemble it.
I find the experience very interesting, and I’d like to read the conclusion of it. The real reasons why nobody stopped him, the interviews of the policemen who saw him, maybe interviews of passing-by people…
In France I “almost” did the same during the celebration of the liberation last September. I went to meet the city’s mayor and some ministers, all dressed up as a WWII GI, including a Garand rifle, a bandoleer full of clips -and I say “clips” :-) – and a 10″ bayonet. No one stopped me, even when entering the cityhall with my gear, even when the mayor came down to shake hands. Of course they knew I was part of the show and stuff, but still, they could have at least asked to see my ID, or I don’t know which document. Nothing.
Clips is the correct term for those with the Garand. They are clips, they load the rifle’s internal magazine.
ping.
Cops probably assume his brash behavior is because he’s a made man with the Ruskie mob, and if they harass him they’ll be counting fingers they don’t have through their one good eye….
Methinks you are right.
That was my first thought too.
It’s probably more that they either read his body language and decided he wasn’t a threat, or they just weren’t paying attention.
Too bad we can’t do this in California!
It would only be more surreal if FPS Russia were the one doing this…
A fake Russian with a fake AK …
I think FPS Russia is in Georgia. Not Georgia the country, but Sweet Home Georgia.
Nothing sweet about that place.
Dollhouse reference, good TV show, well I liked it.
I have been in Georgia a few times, never lived there, just driving from FL to NC.
If you use google images you could find tons of pics of Putin, Medvédev, … using guns. ¿Have you ever see a pic of Obama with a gun?
only when his wife is trying to rape him
Personally I think this is the point in a culture where everyone(police included) assumes that if the guy is walking down the street with such a gun he is with the government and is authorized to carry it or he’s with the Russian Mob that nobody(including the police) want to mess with.
I think a number of the posts hit close to the point. We have to understand that next to the police and FSB there are the hoards of ‘armed security!’ A real nightmare at embassies and also at VIP events when the latest super-rich VIP turfs up in four Mercs with his personal protection all openly carrying the latest H&K!
I just wonder if you could do the same thing in New Orleans wearing a black jump suit with all the ‘private security’ that runs that town!!