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I bribed my way out of a fake country
Today I visited the unrecognised state of Transnistria, which is officially part of Moldova but basically works as it’s own country. It has its own President, government, military, police, car registration, constitution, flag, national anthem and even currency. I thought it would be cool to collect some notes if the currency while I was there. I had a nice collection of every note 1 through to 100.
Here is the capital city, Tiraspol:
Here is the currency:
Upon leaving the state the local border guards (in the local police uniform with their hammer and sickle logo) asked for my migration card. I had never heard of such a thing! I came in via train and there was no migration. The police asked me to come with them. Fuck.
Turns out that when you enter this fake country you need to register yourself. When you come via car it’s fine at the border but via train you need to do it yourself in the train station. The border guard informed me that combined with my travel companion we had to pay 400 rubles (Pridnestrovian Rubles - 25 dollars) as a fine and had to return all the way to the centre of the city to pay it.
Worried that I’d miss my next connection (a train to Bucharest from Chisinau) I asked the guard if there was any way to pay right now. He said no. I got out every bill in my wallet and I didn’t have enough. About 320 rubles. The cheeky fucker smiled and said it’s ok, it’ll do, pocketed the lot and let me go and said he hopes we don’t miss our train. I asked for one ruble as a souvenir and he said ok. Thanks brah.
And that’s how I bribed my way through a fake border of a fake country.
