Society of blue buckets
Encyclopedia
The Society of Blue Buckets is a free protest movement that has recently emerged in Russia as a response to arbitrary, self-serving use of emergency rotating blue flashers by public servants. Inspired by blue toy bucket
's strong resemblance to emergent blue rotating light, members of the Society fix buckets up to their vehicles’ roofs during automotive flashmob
s, as a manifestation of their protest against misuse of emergency lights. "Blue Buckets" have met with warm approval among citizens since public indignation and hostility have aroused towards emergency-flasher-owners which do not belong to any emergency service and use emergency flashers on private businesses.
can have priority if its furnished with flashing blue light, an accompanying siren, both of which must be on, and an appropriate graphic livery of the emergency service it belongs to. The latter condition cannot be fulfilled by “VIP” vehicle of civil servants. Nevertheless these are allowed by individual postponements of Russian government.
Whilst the legal arguments for their legitimacy is a subject for heated discussions, recent years saw a huge spread of such “VIP” vehicles. Blue flashing lights can nowadays be seen not only on senior government officials' vehicles, but on cars of businessmen and celebrities like Nikita Mikhalkov
, many of whom acquire the flashing lights via clandestine channels and/or bribes. Their use has also been controversial, journalists and internet users have spotted such cars for leisure activities and ordinary commuting of government servants and celebrities, and even their families. In many cases, the drivers of these cars do not adhere to the traffic rules, putting ordinary citizen’s lives at risk and violate the law. These facts have caused severe annoyance in Russian public at large and seriously undermined credibility of authorities, especially in Moscow where traffic congestion is a major issue.
A number of car accident
s caused by “vip” vehicles brought the issue into headlines and inspired motorists to take part in street protests.
One outrageous accident that became catalytic to the Society rapid development took place on 25th of February 2010. A head-on collision happened in morning rush hour on a central lane (that is reserved for emergency vehicles) between a Mercedes-Benz S500 and Citroën C3
. The privileged Mercedes with blue flasher on top was carrying the deputy director of Lukoil
Anatoly Barkov. Unlike Anatoly Barkov who was barely injured, the two female physicians in the Citroen died. In public opinion investigation on this matter and it’s conclusions was considered to be doubtful, especially the initial finding that the Citroen was responsible for the accident as it had ostensibly skidded into reserved contraflow lane. Substantial public and internet-society outcries insisted on the opposite. Public pressure forced the President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev
to put this case under personal control of Russian Minister of the Interior Rashid Nurgaliyev
.
In response to this, and to other similar incidents, whose investigations find the “VIP”-cars responsible is a rare exception, the Russian Motorist Federation has declared a “war” to all non-emergency "flashers" (the Russian language
slang-word for rotating light is “migalka” (мигалка), translated: flasher).
First blue bucket protest action was organized by Sergei Prkhomenko from project "Snob". The idea came from a youtube video published several years earlier presenting a man who took his son's blue toy bucket from a sandbox and affixed it to the top of his car. On 14th of April 2010 first public protest action took place. A motorcade of cars with blue buckets on top paraded through Moscow and was warmly welcomed.
The Society of Blue Buckets discusses issues via LiveJournal
, and openly encourages drivers in not making way to “VIP” vehicles. It also offers legal support to accident victims.
Two accidents with terrible ensuing consequences took place in November 2010. The former developed as a driver refused to make way to "flasher" BMW and then was attacked by passengers from escort vehicle which were the members of Telman Ismailov
's AST security company. However the "flasher" was illegal since the passenger was not a civil servant. Russian authorities initially attempted to slacken the pace of case proceedings, but internet-society outcry forced Rashid Nurgaliyev
to assist the investigation. The latter incident was provoked by “VIP-flasher” BMW that side-swiped a passing car while overtaking. Security staff from the “VIP” escort threatened motorist from that car. Later on, it was found out that the “VIP” car was assigned to the Chairman of the Ingushetia Assembly, Makhmud Sakalov. Exclusively with assistance of the President of Ingushetia Yunus-bek Yevkurov
, and due to “blue-bucket” internet appeal proceedings began. Eventually it turned out, that Sakalov's security staff used the car as an illegal “flasher-taxi” during his absence from Moscow.
On January 19 2011, a head-on collision, between an Opel Astra
and a BMW 5-series
took place on the Rublyovo-Uspenskoye Highway. The former car carried a young 23 year old woman, who was seriously injured with multiple fractures. The latter vehicle, carried the Presidential envoy to the State Duma
Garri Minkh, who suffered a minor facial injury, but his driver soon died from his injuries. Once again the society is certain, that the BMW was in the opposite lane, as public space videos, published by the driver, showed him regularly abusing his status and driving in opposite lanes. This was concurred by numerous witneses. However, the official comments by the investigation have either been neutral, or suggested that the young woman was responsible.
Bucket
A bucket, also called a pail, is typically a watertight, vertical cylinder or truncated cone, with an open top and a flat bottom, usually attached to a semicircular carrying handle called the bail. A pail can have an open top or can have a lid....
's strong resemblance to emergent blue rotating light, members of the Society fix buckets up to their vehicles’ roofs during automotive flashmob
FlashMob
FlashMob is a band formed in Nashville, Tennessee featuring Meghan Kabir. The band signed a record deal with Warner Brothers in spring 2010....
s, as a manifestation of their protest against misuse of emergency lights. "Blue Buckets" have met with warm approval among citizens since public indignation and hostility have aroused towards emergency-flasher-owners which do not belong to any emergency service and use emergency flashers on private businesses.
Formation
The Russian Traffic code states that an Emergency vehicleEmergency vehicle
An emergency vehicle is any vehicle that is designated and authorized to respond to an emergency. These vehicles are usually operated by designated agencies, often part of the government, but also run by charities, non-governmental organizations and some commercial companies...
can have priority if its furnished with flashing blue light, an accompanying siren, both of which must be on, and an appropriate graphic livery of the emergency service it belongs to. The latter condition cannot be fulfilled by “VIP” vehicle of civil servants. Nevertheless these are allowed by individual postponements of Russian government.
Whilst the legal arguments for their legitimacy is a subject for heated discussions, recent years saw a huge spread of such “VIP” vehicles. Blue flashing lights can nowadays be seen not only on senior government officials' vehicles, but on cars of businessmen and celebrities like Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Mikhalkov
Nikita Sergeyevich Mikhalkov is a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, actor, and head of the Russian Cinematographers' Union.Mikhalkov was born in Moscow into the distinguished, artistic Mikhalkov family. His great grandfather was the imperial governor of Yaroslavl, whose mother was a Galitzine princess...
, many of whom acquire the flashing lights via clandestine channels and/or bribes. Their use has also been controversial, journalists and internet users have spotted such cars for leisure activities and ordinary commuting of government servants and celebrities, and even their families. In many cases, the drivers of these cars do not adhere to the traffic rules, putting ordinary citizen’s lives at risk and violate the law. These facts have caused severe annoyance in Russian public at large and seriously undermined credibility of authorities, especially in Moscow where traffic congestion is a major issue.
A number of car accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
s caused by “vip” vehicles brought the issue into headlines and inspired motorists to take part in street protests.
One outrageous accident that became catalytic to the Society rapid development took place on 25th of February 2010. A head-on collision happened in morning rush hour on a central lane (that is reserved for emergency vehicles) between a Mercedes-Benz S500 and Citroën C3
Citroën C3
The Citroën C3 is a supermini car equipped with a range of inline-four engines that has been produced by the French automaker Citroën since 2002. It was designed by Donato Coco and Jean-Pierre Ploué, previously known for designing the first generation Renault Twingo; the former has been the head of...
. The privileged Mercedes with blue flasher on top was carrying the deputy director of Lukoil
LUKoil
Lukoil/LUKoil ; ) is Russia's second largest oil company and its second largest producer of oil. In 2009, the company produced 97.615 million tons of oil; ....
Anatoly Barkov. Unlike Anatoly Barkov who was barely injured, the two female physicians in the Citroen died. In public opinion investigation on this matter and it’s conclusions was considered to be doubtful, especially the initial finding that the Citroen was responsible for the accident as it had ostensibly skidded into reserved contraflow lane. Substantial public and internet-society outcries insisted on the opposite. Public pressure forced the President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Medvedev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev is the third President of the Russian Federation.Born to a family of academics, Medvedev graduated from the Law Department of Leningrad State University in 1987. He defended his dissertation in 1990 and worked as a docent at his alma mater, now renamed to Saint...
to put this case under personal control of Russian Minister of the Interior Rashid Nurgaliyev
Rashid Nurgaliyev
Rashid Gumarovich Nurgaliyev is a Russian general and politician of the Tatars descent. Since 2002, he has been the minister of the Internal Affairs of Russia.-Early years:...
.
In response to this, and to other similar incidents, whose investigations find the “VIP”-cars responsible is a rare exception, the Russian Motorist Federation has declared a “war” to all non-emergency "flashers" (the Russian language
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
slang-word for rotating light is “migalka” (мигалка), translated: flasher).
First blue bucket protest action was organized by Sergei Prkhomenko from project "Snob". The idea came from a youtube video published several years earlier presenting a man who took his son's blue toy bucket from a sandbox and affixed it to the top of his car. On 14th of April 2010 first public protest action took place. A motorcade of cars with blue buckets on top paraded through Moscow and was warmly welcomed.
Reaction
Russian police authorities attempted to impede the protests by arresting some of the community members. Those arrests attracted extra attention to misuse of emergency blue flashers. This fired up further protest actions. Then the issue was taken up by local and national broadcasting media.The Society of Blue Buckets discusses issues via LiveJournal
LiveJournal
LiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community....
, and openly encourages drivers in not making way to “VIP” vehicles. It also offers legal support to accident victims.
Two accidents with terrible ensuing consequences took place in November 2010. The former developed as a driver refused to make way to "flasher" BMW and then was attacked by passengers from escort vehicle which were the members of Telman Ismailov
Telman Ismailov
Telman Ismailov is a Russian entrepreneur and businessman of Azerbaijani Mountain Jew descent. He is chairman of the Russian AST Group of companies, which is active in many countries.-Early life:...
's AST security company. However the "flasher" was illegal since the passenger was not a civil servant. Russian authorities initially attempted to slacken the pace of case proceedings, but internet-society outcry forced Rashid Nurgaliyev
Rashid Nurgaliyev
Rashid Gumarovich Nurgaliyev is a Russian general and politician of the Tatars descent. Since 2002, he has been the minister of the Internal Affairs of Russia.-Early years:...
to assist the investigation. The latter incident was provoked by “VIP-flasher” BMW that side-swiped a passing car while overtaking. Security staff from the “VIP” escort threatened motorist from that car. Later on, it was found out that the “VIP” car was assigned to the Chairman of the Ingushetia Assembly, Makhmud Sakalov. Exclusively with assistance of the President of Ingushetia Yunus-bek Yevkurov
Yunus-bek Yevkurov
Yunus-bek Bamatgireyevich Yevkurov is the current president of the southern Russian republic of Ingushetia, appointed by President Dmitry Medvedev on 30 October 2008...
, and due to “blue-bucket” internet appeal proceedings began. Eventually it turned out, that Sakalov's security staff used the car as an illegal “flasher-taxi” during his absence from Moscow.
On January 19 2011, a head-on collision, between an Opel Astra
Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is a small family car engineered and manufactured by the German automaker Opel since 1991.It is branded as Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom, the Buick Excelle XT in China and the Chevrolet Astra/Vectra in Latin America...
and a BMW 5-series
BMW 5 Series (F10)
The sixth generation of the 5-Series made its debut on 23 November 2009 as a 2010 model. The Station Wagon/Touring version carries the chassis code F11...
took place on the Rublyovo-Uspenskoye Highway. The former car carried a young 23 year old woman, who was seriously injured with multiple fractures. The latter vehicle, carried the Presidential envoy to the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
Garri Minkh, who suffered a minor facial injury, but his driver soon died from his injuries. Once again the society is certain, that the BMW was in the opposite lane, as public space videos, published by the driver, showed him regularly abusing his status and driving in opposite lanes. This was concurred by numerous witneses. However, the official comments by the investigation have either been neutral, or suggested that the young woman was responsible.
External Links
- Community Official Web Site (Russian)
- Livejournal community (Russian)