SAFETY & SECURITY

Terrorism / Security

There is a general threat from terrorism.  Attacks cannot be ruled out and could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  

On 31 March 2010 a car bomb was detonated outside the offices of the local interior ministry and the FSB security agency in the town of Kizlyar in Dagestan. Another bomber then blew himself up 20 minutes later as a crowd gathered. At least 12 people have been killed and around 18 people injured.

• On 29 March 2010 two explosions occurred on the Moscow metro. Official reports state that 39 people have died and that many more were injured. The Russian authorities believe these were suicide bombings.
  
  
• On 27 November 2009 an express train derailed en route from Moscow to St Petersburg. There were at least 30 deaths and around 100 casualties. It is believed that this was a terrorist act.

• On 17 August 2009 a bomb exploded outside a police station in Nazran, the capital of Ingushetia. At least 19 people were killed and over 60 people were injured by the device. The Russian authorities believe this was a suicide bomb.
  

On 9 December 2007, a bomb exploded on a bus in the southern Russian town of Nevinnomyssk, which killed two and injured seven. The Russian authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.

On 31 October 2007 there was an explosion on a bus in Tolyatti.  Media reports have suggested that seven were killed and up to forty injured.  The Russian authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion.  

On 13 August 2007 there was an explosion in Novgorod Region which derailed and seriously damaged a train travelling from Moscow to St Petersburg.  No British citizens were injured.

In July 2007 fighters linked to the rebel cells in Chechnya and elsewhere in the North Caucasus issued generic statements warning tourists not to visit Kabardino-Balkaria, listing casinos, hotels and bars as legitimate targets for terrorist-style activity.  But it is unclear whether these groups have the capability to mount such operations.  

Over the past two years particular threats have come from suicide attacks in public places in Moscow, including the Metro system, and hostage taking.  The risk of terrorism in Moscow could rise quickly in relation to any escalation of violence in the North Caucasus.  

You should remain vigilant in all public places, including tourist sites and crowded places, particularly where access is not controlled e.g. open-air events, markets, etc.  

We advise against all travel to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan because of the security situation in the North Caucasus.  This also includes the regions of Budyonnovsky, Levokumsky, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kurskoy in east and south Stavropol Krai, which border Chechnya and Dagestan. 

We also advise against all but essential travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area), since terrorism and kidnapping in these regions remain a serious problem.  You should seek security advice before travelling.  

As well as an ongoing risk of insurgent attacks across the region, terrorist attacks have occurred throughout the North Caucasus, including incidents in Beslan and Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia, Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, Nazran in Ingushetia, and Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan. Further violence in the North Caucasus region is likely.

Kidnapping in the region is common and Westerners are particularly vulnerable: four Western hostages, including three Britons, were murdered in Chechnya in December 1998 and a Dutch aid worker was kidnapped in Dagestan in August 2002, spending 21 months in captivity.

You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.

Crime

As in most countries, cities in Russia have their fair share of petty crime.  You should be alert at all times to the possibility of mugging, pickpocketing and theft from vehicles or hotel rooms.  Be particularly alert to groups of women and children who beg, and pickpockets around the main railway concourses.

Take care when drinking with or meeting casual or new acquaintances in bars, restaurants or night-clubs, as there have been incidents of robbery and violence involving foreigners, amongst them British nationals.  Pay particular attention when drinking alcohol.  Drink spiking followed by robbery is prevalent and can also lead to violence and/or abuse.  Unconscious victims are often left outside, which can be life threatening in the winter months.  Beware of drinks which have not been poured in your sight, do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept any drink given to you by a stranger or someone you have just met.

In St Petersburg there has been a sharp increase in street crime since April 2004; tourists have been specifically targeted.  Since April 2005 the number of cases of tourists being held up at knifepoint on the metro and buses have increased.  These crimes are carried out by well-organised gangs.  You should be especially aware of pickpockets in the main tourist areas.

Incidents of bogus police officers harassing and robbing tourists have also been reported.  If you are stopped always insist on seeing ID.  Avoid openly carrying expensive items, or anything that might easily identify you as a tourist.   Incidents of armed violence in major cities are usually linked to criminal/business activities and are not usually directed against foreign visitors.  There have also been bomb attacks linked to criminal disputes.

Racially Motivated Attacks

Racially motivated attacks do occur in Russia.  Racially motivated attacks tend to increase around 20 April, the anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s birthday.  Although the great majority of visitors experience no difficulties, there has been a substantial increase in the number of attacks on foreign nationals, especially in large urban areas.  We recommend that travellers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent take extra care.

Scams

There are a number of services offering addresses and contact information for Russian women who are looking to become romantically involved with Western Europeans.  A number of prospective suitors have entered into correspondence, only later to be defrauded. If this occurs, there is little that the British Government can do to assist in the recovery of any capital outlay.  We advise that you exercise the appropriate level of caution if entering into correspondence.

Health

A Reciprocal Health Care Agreement operates between the UK and Russia. This entitles British nationals to free treatment in a Russian hospital.  However, any treatment you receive is likely to be limited.

Between 15 and 21 May 2010 62 cases of Measles have been reported in Amur Oblast, Amurskaya Province, 32 of which have been laboratory confirmed cases.  Epidemiological Investigation has shown that many of the infected people recently visited the city of Heihe, China.

Food poisoning, TB, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis occur in Russia.  Tick-borne encephalitis occurs in rural and wooded areas in the summer months. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in Russia. Caution should be exercised and local advice sought. Bottled mineral water is widely available.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 940,000 adults aged 15 or over in Russia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Russia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Local Travel

We advise against all travel to Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.  This also includes the regions of Budyonnovsky, Levokumsky, Neftekumsky, Stepnovsky and Kurskoy in east and south Stavropol Krai, which border Chechnya and Dagestan.  We also advise against all but essential travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area) (see Terrorism above).   You should be aware that short-term travel restrictions are periodically applied in parts of the North Caucasus region in relation to ongoing security operations. These are usually publicised, if at all, at very short notice.

The North Caucasus remains an unstable and potentially dangerous region.  The Russian authorities take a particularly strict attitude towards security and compliance with official regulations.  If you intend to travel to the North Caucasus region, it is vital that you have the correct documentation including an appropriate visa for the purpose of your visit, and that you comply fully with registration requirements.   If you travel to these parts of Russia despite this advice, you are taking a serious risk, and must accept that the ability of the FCO and the British Embassy in Moscow to help in the case of an emergency is severely limited.   Cross-border traffic with Georgia and Azerbaijan is also subject to restrictions. 

Road Travel  

You may drive a car in Russia for a limited period if you hold an international driving licence.  For further information on driving restrictions, check with an international driving organisation.   Road conditions can often be poor, especially outside the major cities.   You should comply with all local speed limits.  The standard speed limit for built-up areas is 60 kph (37 mph), outside built-up areas 90 kph (55 mph) and 100 kph (62 mph) on motorways (Brest-Moscow).  Visiting motorists who have held a driving licence for less than two years must not exceed 70 kph (43 mph).  It is common practice for traffic police to stop motorists for spot checks.  You should be aware that there is a zero tolerance policy towards drinking and driving.   If travelling by taxi, use officially marked taxis and do not share them with strangers.  We advise against flagging down unofficial taxis. 
 
Rail Travel 

If you are travelling by overnight train and have the use of a sleeping compartment, store valuables in the container under the bed/seat.   Do not leave your sleeping compartment unoccupied as some compartments only have a simple lock on the sliding door. On some trains there may be an additional security device, which can be attached to the fitted handle/lock unit.  There may also be a steel switch at head-height on the door panel which, when pulled down, prevents the closed door from being slid open.

When travelling by train do not agree to look after the luggage of a fellow traveller or allow it to be stored in your compartment.

On the evening of Friday 27 November an express train derailed en route from Moscow to St Petersburg.  Exact figures are unclear, but official estimates are of over 30 deaths and around 100 casualities.

On the evening of Friday 27 November 2009 an express train derailed en route from Moscow to St Petersburg.

Air Travel

Evidence suggests that some aircraft types used mainly on domestic routes do not always comply with international safety standards.  On 14 September 2008 a Boeng-737 Aeroflot Nord flight from Moscow crashed as it came in to land at Perm with the loss of 88 lives. Russian federal investigators believe an engine fault probably caused the crash but continue to investigate.

There have also been air crashes in Samara in March 2007 and Irkutsk in July 2006.

You should be aware that security on Russian internal flights is not as high as that for international flights.

Local laws and customs

You should not become involved with drugs.  Penalties are severe and the courts impose long sentences for those found in possession of even small quantities of drugs, regardless of whether they are "hard" or "soft"

It is a legal requirement that you carry your passport at all times in the Russian Federation.  A copy will not be sufficient.  If you are asked for ID and cannot produce your passport, you will be fined.  It is standard practice for Russian immigration services to retain copies of visiting cruise passengers passports for immigration purposes. Information from the photocopied documents is entered onto the Russian Immigration Service computer system at a later date; photocopies are destroyed after 6-12 months.
Homosexuality is legal in Russia and there is a reasonably tolerant attitude to homosexuality in major urban areas.  There is still, a degree of intolerance amongst some sections of the population, and you should be careful about open displays of affection in public.

The photographing of any military installation, establishment or site of strategic importance is prohibited; this includes airports.  You are likely to have your film confiscated, be detained for questioning and possibly arrested if you do not observe this rule.


Reference point: www.fco.gov.org / June10