Prostitutes line the streets of Moscow, where pimps operate openly and police turn a blind eye. But they do not control the trade; they merely execute the will of the city government, which is in effect saying: “Go ahead and buy, girls.” услуги проституток москва
The Moscow sex industry has been visible to anyone who walks or drives along the route from Sheremetyevo International Airport to downtown, with a sea of women and their handlers plying their trade. The city has a reputation for being the wild west of prostitution, and there are no laws to keep the girls and their clientele out of sight in public spaces. It is a thriving business, even in this economic crisis, though some prostitutes have seen their custom fall sharply.
Most Russians who engage in prostitution are women, but men do also work as prostitutes, and they have been part of the trade since at least the nineteenth century. Prostitution is illegal in Russia but many prostitutes have found ways to avoid punishment.
For example, women who do not want to risk arrest can hire a lawyer and negotiate with the police. They can also sign contracts with pimps or arrange for a lawyer to represent them in their dealings with clients, which helps to keep the names of both the prostitute and her client secret. Women who want to avoid the risk of being arrested can hire a bodyguard or stay in a safe house.
The legality of prostitution in Russia varies by region, but most of the cities have brothels where women work for a small salary and customers of varying social class. These establishments are dominated by male pimps, known as kots, and female prostitutes are called bandersha. Women who work as prostitutes often have a background in needle trades, but the work is seasonal and pays below subsistence wages.
In the past, one of the main motivating factors behind state regulation of prostitution was the belief that prostitutes were a source of venereal diseases. Statistical studies in the late imperial period show that a high percentage of prostitutes had or had recently contracted syphilis and other venereal disease, and a similar number had previously had the disease.
Another major factor was the belief that prostitution was a morally deviant practice. Various religious and secular societies have condemned the sale of sex as immoral and degrading, and most have attempted to regulate it or make it completely illegal. This has been true of all of the countries in the former Soviet Union and beyond.
Today, many girls working as prostitutes in Moscow report that their earnings are adequate but not excessive for the cost of living and helping to support their families. In addition, many women in the sex industry say that their sex work has helped to ease the stress of family life and allow them to take some time for themselves. However, they also face serious health problems, including sexual transmitted infections and a variety of cancers, which they attribute to the conditions in their workplaces.
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