First monument to shuttle trader to be erected in Kaliningrad region

The first monument to the shuttle trader will be erected in the town of Bagrationovsk (Kaliningrad Region, Russia's Baltic enclave) by October 1.

Head of the Bagrationovsk District administration Oleg Shlyk told journalists that shuttle traders would lose their means of subsistence after Poland introduced on October 1 the visa regime on its border with the Kaliningrad region. This will affect Polish "shuttles" as well.

According to Shlyk, the sculpture composition will be erected right on the border. It will consist of one or two figures of shuttle traders with bags and undone jackets with blocs of cigarettes, bottles of vodka and other goods sticking out of the pockets.

Shlyk said those crossing the border would recall the time when they were stripped here, their stuff rooted about and pockets prowled in.

A special fund for the monument's construction, which will possibly become international, is being set up under the head of the Bagrationovsk District administration. The monument's cost is not supposed to exceed $10,000.