Travel Insurance Russia

Business Practices

Business meetings are typically formal and Russian businessmen largely stick to numerous formalities. For example, to address a Russian by his first name, unless invited to do so, may be considered an insult. If the guest speaks Russian, they should be sure to use the vy (formal) form, not the ty (informal) form. Address Russians with their titles and their last names: "Chairman Mironov", "General Designer Medvedov". Many fledgling Russian entrepreneurs speak at least some English, but if business is outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, or if you are dealing with large factories or institutes, it may be more difficult to find English speakers. At the end of a formal visit, Russians like to exchange gifts. Usually, a company manager may present a pin or pen with a company logo. The foreign visitor should also bring a small gift -- pens, pins, cups, or plates with company logos are probably the best. Office hours are 0900-1800 Monday to Friday.

Crime

Recent police statistics for Moscow report an overall decline in crime, though drug-related crimes, murders, and kidnappings have increased, and street crime, sometimes violent, remains a continuing problem. Nevertheless, crimes against foreigners is a problem, especially in major cities. Pickpocketings, assaults, and robberies occur frequently and at any time or place. The most vulnerable areas include underground walkways and the subway, overnight trains, train stations, airports, markets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotel rooms, and residences, even when locked or occupied. Groups of children are known to assault and rob foreigners on city streets or underground walkways. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers. Travelers have found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies. Thieves, known as 'banditry' in Russian also frequently target hotel rooms. The Ukraina hotel is the site of the most frequent reported crimes. The hotel administration has established a consistent pattern of allowing thieves free access and failing to cooperate in investigating complaints. One foreigner awoke on his first night in Moscow to find two thieves letting themselves into his room with a passkey. When they started to carry out his still packed luggage he confronted them and received a three-inch gash across his throat and two slit nostrils for his trouble. Instead of cooperating with the police, the hotel administration slandered the victim, saying he was entertaining prostitutes in his room. There have been sporadic attacks on foreigners by "skinhead" groups in some Russian urban centers. Many of these attacks appear to target university students, particularly those of Asian and African origin. Travelers are urged to exercise caution in areas frequented by "skinhead" groups and wherever large groups have gathered. Demonstrations occur frequently in Moscow and other cities. While these demonstrations have been peaceful and controlled, it is best to avoid such gatherings. Extortion and corruption are common in the business environment. Organized criminal groups target foreign businesses in many cities and have been known to demand protection money under threat of serious violence. Many Western firms hire security services, which have improved their overall security, although this is no guarantee. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Since the mid-1990's, several foreign business people have been attacked, kidnapped, and even killed. Extortion attempts should be reported to the Russian authorities and the businessperson's embassy or consulate. Business people who utilize local services for banking, security and medical treatment should limit the information provided to the minimum required, as reports have been received indicating that some individuals working in these sectors have passed confidential credit/financial, banking and medical information to organized crime gangs who use it to make extortion threats against foreigners.

Hotels

While tourist facilities exist in Moscow and some other large cities, they are not developed in most of Russia and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available. Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Samara, Sochi and Vladivostok have western-style hotels, though priced at a premium compared with other major cities of the world. Outside the major cities, traditional Russian hotels often provide fairly modest accommodations, again for surprisingly high prices. It is possible to find remarkably well- appointed hotels in relatively small communities; it is also possible to find yourself temporarily without water or electricity when visiting other regions of Russia. As previously discussed, we recommend against staying at the Ukraina as foreigners staying there have often been victims of hotel theft.

Communications

Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 7. When dialing the Russian Federation from abroad, the 0 of the area code must not be omitted. Outgoing international code: 810. The Russian telecommunications system suffers from a lack of installed lines, outmoded switching equipment, and inadequate revenues to finance investment. The Ministry of Communications is dedicated to bringing the telecommunications infrastructure up to international norms as quickly as possible, and many multinational firms are vying for the opportunity to help in this undertaking. Although telephones, fax machines, and package delivery are available in Russia, they are often unreliable, especially outside the major cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, etc.) and lengthy delays in service are not uncommon. International calls should be made through the hotel desk. Most international calls made from the cities of Moscow, St Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod can be dialed directly, but in smaller cities and towns it may be necessary to go through the international operator and these should be booked well in advance. Post office hours: 0900-1900.

Electricity

is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Plug Types

C,F

Food And Dining

The kind of food visitors will eat from day to day depends on which city they are visiting and the time of year. Breakfast is often similar to the Scandinavian, with cold meats, boiled eggs and bread served with Russian tea. For the midday and evening meal the food is often more traditional, again depending on the region.

National specialties:
? Kasha (porridge) is a staple breakfast dish, made with milk and oats, buckwheat or semolina.
? Blini (small pancakes filled with caviar, fish, melted butter or sour cream).
? Ponchiki (hot sugared doughnuts).
? Pirozhky (fried rolls with different fillings, usually meat).
? Borshch, a beetroot soup served hot with sour cream.
? Pelmeni (meat dumplings). Things to know: Drinks are ordered by grams or by the bottle. City-center bars close around midnight. National drinks:
? Chai (sweet tea served without milk).
? Vodka (often flavored and colored with herbs and spices such as zubrovka (a kind of grass), ryabinovka (steeped with rowan-tree berries), starka (dark, smooth, aged vodka) and pertsovka (with hot pepper). Posolskaya, Stolichnaya and Rossiskaya are popular brands.
? Krushon (cold 'punch'; champagne, brandy and summer fruit are poured into a hollowed watermelon and chilled for several hours).
? Nalivka (sweet liqueur made with fruit or berries).
? Nastoika is a fortified wine made of herbs, leaves, flowers, fruit and roots of plants with medicinal properties.

Tipping:
Hotels in Moscow and other large cities include a 10 to 15 per cent service charge. Otherwise 10 per cent is customary.

Nightlife
Theater, circus, concert and variety performances are the main evening entertainments. Tickets are available in advance or from ticket booths immediately before performances. Visitors should note that prices for foreigners are usually much higher than those paid by Russian nationals. The repertoire of theaters provides a change of program almost nightly. In the course of one month, 30 different productions may be presented by the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Company. Details of performances can be obtained on arrival. Visitors should apply to the service bureau of their hotel. All of these establishments are open 0600-2200.