BOTH OF THE THINGS that happened to Seryozha that day were examples of what Yuri Levada had once termed “collective hostage-taking,” what was once known as krugovaya poruka—literally, “circular bail.” For centuries, entire communities could be held responsible for taxes owed or crimes committed by any individual. If a resident failed to pay taxes, the property of any of his neighbors could be seized. The threat transformed all members of a given community into enforcers, but not in accordance with codified law—they had to devise their own means of ensuring compliance.
