Safe travels?

[mendeleyev]

A month or so ago, had you asked me about safety in traveling to Russia, I would have brushed aside any concerns regarding safety. Not any longer, however.

A longtime friend, an American, from Moscow's only English language radio station felt uncomfortable enough that he spent several weeks in Finland, doing his show from there for the past months. He has returned to Moscow, but as someone who has lived in Russia for a long while, even while employed at a station that is owned by the city of Moscow, he felt tremendous pressure and faced numerous threats.

If I had a thousand rubles for every Russian media friend who has cautioned me to watch my back, I'd be the owner of a truckload of (almost worthless) rubles. I know of expats who have been ambushed and beaten up in the past two months, near their homes. This tells me that they were targets. That most of these incidents have happened during the daytime is chilling.

One of several very real concerns is when propaganda reaches the level to which locals, either euphoric or fearful with nationalism, are willing to take matters into their own hands.

There was a time when only black students at St Petersburg international universities had cause for fear. Sadly, every Western visitor to Russia today should be more diligent. It does not mean that you should be scared, but an extraordinary amount of common sense is called for these days.

To make matters more pressing, certain lawmakers are calling for Russia to more closely monitor comments about Russia on social media. United Russia Duma deputy Alexey Zhuravlyov, is part of a committee currently crafting a law that would give Russian immigration officials access to Roskomnadzor (Russia's media watchdog) files on foreigners who frequent social media sites. Persons who post comments that are uncomplimentary to the current government could then be deemed as dangerous, and denied entry visas into Russia.

In case you had to wonder, yes they do monitor such things, perhaps more closely than you would feel comfortable. The working on such legislation would translate not only into increased scrutiny for those who apply for a visa, but cause Russians with a fascist/nationalistic bent, and there are plenty to be found, to become vigilantes when encountering foreigners inside Russia.

I am not yet ready to advise others against traveling, but I am advising those who travel to do so when accompanied by your Russian friends, and to exercise caution at all times.

[Larry1]

I suppose such violent incidents are the result of the Russian media's constant demonization of the West, and the US in particular.

[jone]

I still speak to many people in Russia.  They are staunchly in favor of Western communication, and, therefore, friendly to Westerners.  However, there are the crazy few, who are anti-West and becoming more and more energized. 

Life in Russia will change if they are completely shut off to Western influences.  I pray that this never happens.

[sleepycat]

To make matters more pressing, certain lawmakers are calling for Russia to more closely monitor comments about Russia on social media. United Russia Duma deputy Alexey Zhuravlyov, is part of a committee currently crafting a law that would give Russian immigration officials access to Roskomnadzor (Russia's media watchdog) files on foreigners who frequent social media sites. Persons who post comments that are uncomplimentary to the current government could then be deemed as dangerous, and denied entry visas into Russia.

Hilarious to picture some low rank FSB guy keeping an eye on the trip report section of RWD to see who is about to make a trip to Russia and then checking the posting history of that person to see if he has previously made derogatory remarks about botox Putin...

[Chicagoguy]

Back to putting Canadian flags on our backpacks ?

I remember when the Chicago Bulls were hot with Michael Jordon there seemed to be more Bulls paraphernalia in Moscow than Chicago.

[msmobyone]

Hi Mendy,

That's very sad news. My step-son has encountered some ignorance about Russians in Britain - but has never been singled out for attention.

I have to say - travelling as a British citizen, that I found everyone to be polite and any talk about about the differences was light hearted

Thanks for the heads up

[Anathema]

Do you feel this is a problem all throughout Russia or just, say, around Moscow?  I have a tourist visa that I was hoping to use this year but the more I hear, the more I'm thinking about holding off and visiting other countries.  I'm not one to usually shy away from such things but I've read quite a few similar thoughts lately.

I was just in Kiev a few weeks ago and I met a really nice Russian guy one night while I was eating dinner at a bar.  He's from Moscow but currently lives in Germany.  Fluent English and German.  I told him I had plans to visit Russia soon and already have my visa.  He advised that I skip Moscow for now, citing the same concerns as the OP.  He didn't think I'd have many problems outside of Moscow though and suggested St. P instead.

[mendeleyev]

Especially anywhere in European Russia, and that of course includes most of the major cities.