Expat Community > Ukraine

AndrewRajkumar
Joined 2010
Posts: 1

racism at Shooters in Kiev

14 years ago

Hello,

I would just like to alert you about racism at Shooters Club in Kiev, Ukraine. On Sunday 3 days ago, I and my friend Nauman went to Shooters alone at around 11 pm to try and get into the club's restaurant. This was the night of a big Halloween party. We were not allowed in. The bouncer told us that the restaurant was full. He asked us if we had a reservation and we said no, because we did not. But since this was the night of a big Halloween party, it is plausible that the restaurant was indeed full. Note however that I am of South Indian descent (dark skin) and my friend Nauman is also of South Asian descent (dark skin though not as dark as mine - somewhat Middle Eastern looking). We are both in our 30s.

But then, today (Wednesday), we had a repeat experience. This time, I called in the afternoon and made a reservation at the Shooters restaurant under my name Andrew Rajkumar, for 11 pm, for four people - me, my friend Nauman and two Ukrainian girls (white, also young). We went to the restaurant around 11 pm - we were all quite well dressed. The bouncer was the same as the one on Sunday. We told him that we had made a reservation, but he told us that the place is full.

I immediately called the restaurant using my cellphone. I told them that we were standing outside, and we had a reservation, and they should let us in. I was told that the reservation means nothing if we do not get past "face control". I asked to speak to a manager or supervisor, but I was told that none is available, that the bouncer is the only person I can speak to.

Note that Shooters is supposed to be a night where expatriates go often, and from what I understand Wednesday night is an especially good night for foreigners to go. I suppose this is only for white or light-skinned expatriates, since there can be no other explanation for us not being allowed in except racism.

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