From: ryyti@jyu.fi (Jarmo Ryyti)
Subject: Re: Mail in Russia
Organization: University of Jyvaskyla, Finland
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 05:57:50 GMT

In article <+f5m-3-.westes@netcom.com> westes@netcom.com (Will Estes) writes:
>TSLYWKA@iubacs.bitnet ("Terence R. Slywka") writes:
>
>>I seem to recall hearing something a few months ago about problems with mail
>>delivery to Russia.  There were reports that postal workers were opening
>>packages and letters.  Does anyone know if mail service reliability has
>>improved?  I sent a letter to Moscow today and I would like to know what
>>chances it has of getting to the proper place.
>
>Will Estes		Internet: westes@netcom.com
HI,
At the main post of Petrozavodsk, in the Republic of Carelia a civil servant
of the post (a lady) had opened during c. a year foreign letters.
The customers claimed for the post for a long time to inspect
the situation  because they suspected
that something is wrong. Finlally the thief was cougth, she was removed
to an other departement at a post!! The value of the money taken from
the envelopes is unknown. She was specialized in foreingn letters, mostly
coming from Finland to the local people. If she will ever face a trial
is open. The post, as police is very corrupt in Russia, one reason is
low wages, the temptation to open letters and parcels coming from abroad
is great.

A Finnish aid lorry was last year robbed as well in Karelia by the 
people of a village, the local milicia refused accuse co-villagers
because "it is not illegal to take from an aid cargo items you need",
they are not anyone's  special property! Such is russian logic.

In our press yesterday and in TV one of the main news was the incrising
crime committed by the Russians  in Finland. Some shops in Helsinki
do not let anymore more than two russian "tourist" at once into their
shops. Daily russian shop-lifters are cought in the shops because
of the thefts. 

In Sortavala the nearest Russian town to Finland  after two days
Common market aid arrived to St Petersburg those cans of meat were for sale.
So there is no distribution problem.

Very typical russian way of thinking is which I personally
have experienced many times: You the Finns HAVE TO HELP us and it is
said not in a polite manner.

The foreign minister of Karelia, Mr Schlamin said in a seminar: 
"because you the Finns have built so nice and quick such good
buildings for your customs, would you build similar ones for us as
a present, we someday remember your good acts towards us".

EX-SU is allready 6 billion Finnish marks in debts for Finland which
is an enormous sum of money for Finland's economy.
And more is demanded. The Finns, the man on the street, quite do not under-
stand the logics of the Russians, because a Finn thinks the following
way: first they attacked Finland 1939, took the second biggest town
under their occupation, forced 10 % of the total population to flee
and into refugees and after the war Finland had to pay for SU for the
war damages milliards, because SU with a power of BIG STATe so

demanded
and was keeping a military base as a guarantee near Helsinki that Finland fulfills her responsibilties towars heroic Soviet peoples and is now again
 demanding new contributions from us.

The attitude of the russians is very chauvinist while demanding "help"
it is supposed to be a kind of honour when they let the Finns to help!

I am warned by the many ethnic Finns living in Russia as well as by
the estonians who know these russian mates: "Never trust a Russian,
he is able to put a knife into your back with a friendly smile ."
Jarmo