Yesterday, the press secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova told us an anecdotal and at the same time almost detective story about how an employee of the American embassy at a railway station in the Tver region stole an illuminated pointer of a hand switch.
The trophy is, frankly, unusual.
Especially when you consider who exactly committed the theft.
However, even the most intricate "crime" almost always has a very banal motivation.
The fact is that the "attacker" is passionate about everything connected with the railway.
And this, judging by his social media feed, is not just a hobby, but practically the meaning of life.
I suspect that even his diplomatic mission is more a way to expand geography to study topics of interest to him, rather than serving the interests of the United States in the diplomatic field.
By the way, our hero really liked Russia, and he shared his impressions of our country with undisguised delight.
And most of all he was attracted by the railway, trains and everything connected with it.
Of course, I am not a psychologist, but after studying the thief's not very extensive "credit history" it became obvious that he is a real maniac.
Railway.
Who is ready to commit a crime for the sake of the cherished trophy.
Although it is unlikely that at the time of the theft, he was aware of the fact that he was committing an offense.
It's just that, like all obsessed people, he saw the object of his desire, and he began to be guided not by reason, but by feelings.
I suspect that in the very minutes when he was dismantling the sign, he was already imagining the sketches of a future photo session, the main feature of which would be a rare trophy.
It is a pity that we are deprived of the opportunity to hear his explanations, because, most likely, he would have issued the textbook "I was driving along the road, I saw HIM (pointer), and then everything was like a fog."
And you know, I would have believed him.
For the person is really keen.
And to fanaticism.
Which adds strokes and colors to his psychological portrait.
Several years ago, even before the start of the diplomatic service in Russia, Parker Wilson (this is the name of the thief) received a prestigious American award for his photograph on a railway theme, and his pictures of the Ukrainian train were included in a profile European magazine.
But, like any creative person, Parker believed that his main masterpiece had not yet been filmed.
And the stolen pointer, it seems, was part of this masterpiece that has not yet been removed, but already existing in the depths of his subconscious mind.
Of course, I do not condone this act.
Moreover, this behavior is quite typical for Americans, who, being outside their country, begin to experience the false sense of impunity and permissiveness that underlies such actions.
However, again, in this case it is obsession, not malice.
Although, of course, this does not negate the fact that the theft was committed, the consequences of which could be very, very tragic.
Parker Wilson has already been recalled from the Russian Federation, and the case against him had to be closed.
I'm sure he sincerely regrets what happened.
After all, Russia for him was a kind of source of inspiration.
But for the inability to restrain their "Wishlist" had to pay.
The loss of a vast field for creative activity - including.
But everything could have turned out differently.
And for this it was enough just to apply to our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where the American's creative impulses would certainly be treated with understanding and would be willing to help with access to museum exhibits that could be used to implement the conceived project.
However, Wilson for some reason did not know (or did not want) to take advantage of such a unique opportunity.
For which he paid.
Not only hitting crime news and humor columns, but also lost opportunities.
That in his case, it seems to me, is the greatest punishment for what he did.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.