Moscow's Economic Boom A Boon To Pimps

Marx Weeps.

It seems slavery is alive and well in Russia.

Although Russian and Eastern European flesh vendors aren't hard to find on the net (no links, sorry), the fact that an economic boom would serve to worsen slavery seems initially counter-intuitive. On the other hand, that's why the United States is a slave-trading destination, right?

Apparently Russians claim enforcement is hampered by a lack of victim-protection laws. It's hard to imagine that forcing humans to work illegal jobs under threat of mutilation or death is lawful. The Jaded Consumer take? Bogus. Enforcement officials where such claims circulate benefit financially from large-scale crime.

Crime and corruption isn't news in Russia, though -- either before or after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Growing business opportunities means improved graft opportunities. Telling mobsters from government officials can be tricky.

Of course, if your business is weird and out-of-the-way enough, and you can get enough international attention, it's possible to win against mobsters and curruption, but I wouldn't bet my life on it.