Equipment seized in Anadyr
Upon arrival in Anadyr, 17th March 2007, Karl and Dimitri had their GPS’s, satphones and emergency beacons seized by the authorities. They have since had their GPS’s returned, however there is a possibility that the makes of the other items have not previously been ‘officially’ imported into Russia. So far attempts to find any government department that can aid in the return of these items has proved fruitless. As part of the conditions for walking in this area are that K and D must report their location to the authorities every two days, they cannot set off without the sat phones. The simple plan will be to fly, when possible, to Lavrentia and from there make their way, somehow, up to Uelen where the walk can begin. Unfortunately, the weather is getting warmer and the snow and ice K and D were relying on is melting.
The people involved with the Goliath Expedition in the UK would like to thank Dimitri for the enormous effort he’s making to secure the release of the seized items, without which neither Goliath or his own ‘Nexus Expedition’ can progress.
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I hope they get the equipement back soon! It’s a difficult walk if the ice begin melting up there.
Russians’ authorities are always a nightmare anyway.
Good luck! I keep my fingers crossed.
It wouldn’t be a challenge if it were plain sailing!! C’mon guys, you’ve got through other hitches, you an make this!!
I just want to know why you never had anyone deal with these “permits” and stuff BEFORE you got there.
One British step forward = 365 Russian steppes (play on words) back
Just take 365 British paces forward - you’ll leave the Russians in a confused cloud of dust.
You know guys, if you want to go through Russia, you’ve got to… arrange things. To put it simolier, you have to pay bribes for what you ought to get for free from the authorities. It’s the way it works, it’s the way they earn their living all across Russia. Unless you understand it, you won’t make any progress.
For Matt B
We’d spent seven or eight months arranging for an agent to obtain the shed load of permits required. It should have taken 45 days at the longest and K and D should have been walking just after Christmas. As it was it wasn’t until a friend in the governor’s office got a grip of things at that end that the permits were finally issued…. in March. Believing we had enough permits for all the equipment they set off for Russia only to have the items seized and no one could explain why. Unless you have bumped head with the bureaucratic system over there then it’s difficult to imagine how unbelievably frustrating it can be. Don’t even try to compare it with anything here.
FD
Arranging things / bribes as you say can be quite commonplace. However, you also need something that we haven’t got a lot of ie money. Consequently you have to wait for a bit longer and try and find another way.
Keith,
You haven’t got it. Waiting a bit longer and finding another way won’t work out. The corruption exists in Russia, because you are unable to find another way at all, no matter how long you wait and how hard you try. Letting you in and seizing your equipment is a perfect example of showing you that there’s no other way: they were unable to delay it any longer, and they trasformed the barrier in space and time, making it even more annoying. It must be absolutely obvious for you, that somebody wants some money from your expedition, and you will never ever be allowed to go unless you pay the money to that person. The buricracy works in such a way that you pay for every moment of delay, you won’t spare a cent on waiting.
For FD,
Not always the case. It would appear that everybody is buggered about no matter how much money they have. As it is, Karl and Dimitri are back on the move again. Luckily we have allies in the Governor’s office… to the extent that they have lent us a satphone, so the weekend before last K&D headed north towards Uelen where the walk will begin. Believe me, a couple of phone calls from the Governor’s office can quickly put things back on track.
Guys!Will go to Egvekinot - Pevek - Bilibino - Magadan.
Way Anadyr - Markovo - Omolon - Magadan is bad!
Many snow in this year.
Now strongest snow storm on Arctic coast of Chukotka.
I hope guys somewhere in safe place.
My on the top of Pevek mountain.Tough!
I experienced russian bureaucratic system as well, from what I saw it’s really not only a question of bribes, because you might end up giving your money to the wrong person. Usually if you find the right person he will not ask for money, the matter is finding the right person of course.
If the weather has been bad I doubt they got to Uelen yet. Let us know.
Good luck!
Must be nice to be able to call in a favor from Roman Abromovitch. Not many people can say that.
I just hope I don’t see Karl donning a Chelsea scarf in the Siberian Winter.
Good luck