SAFETY

Crossing the border
Before travelling to Russia, a foreigner should verify the latest requirements with the nearest Russian Embassy or Consulate since Russian immigration and visa laws change regularly. In order to cross the border without any difficulties, stick to the following guidance:

• Make sure you have all the necessary documents, including your Passport, which needs to be valid for 6 for months beyond your intended stay; tickets and documents for return or onward travel; Russian visa (if required); HIV Certificate (if required); Medical Insurance (if required); other documents
• Fill out the customs declaration form available in several languages.These completed forms are returned to customs together with a new form on departure.
• Fill out a migration card, depositing one part with immigration authorities at the port of entry and holding on to the other part for the duration of your stay. Upon exit, the migration card, which serves as a statistical tool and a record of entry, exit, and registration, must be submitted to immigration authorities. The card is also necessary to register at hotels. 

 Once you have exited passport control, check to make sure the Arrival/Departure Card, which you received at the consulate alongside your visa, is stamped by the officer. The stamp must indicate the current date with an arrow directed towards the date [DD MM YY D], where DD means day, MM - month, YY - year, D - just any digit. If you have a single entry visa, the officer will take the card away. If you have a double or multiple entry, you will keep the Card for your future visits.

• On the departure date make sure you have a Registration Mark in your Migration Card – otherwise you may be fined. State fee is about $50 or 1500 rubles. 
• On departure Your passport should also be stamped with the so-called "exit-stamp". The arrow after the date should look to the right, outwards from the date.
Items of considerable value such as diamond jewellery and computers should be noted on the customs form on entry.  All such valuables must be reexported or import duty will be charged.

Travellers, who overstay their visa’s validity, even for one day, will be prevented from leaving until their sponsor intervenes and requests a visa extension on their behalf.

Russian laws & policies
Not having a visa registration: the fine is usually around 1000-3000 rubles and a tourist has to spend time in a police station (not more than 3 hours). The chances that one gets checked are not high. What you can do in case a policeman stopped you is to kindly ask him to call your hotel or embassy for further comments. Pretend you don’t have cash. In any case, there's a law that a policeman can only look at your passport from your own hands. If you show you know the law, the policeman will not make problems.
Recently the rules have become more strict in big cities – Moscow and St. Petersburg, but the checks are targeted more towards people from CIS and Caucasus.  There is no reason to worry, it's just a check-up.
Urinating on the street. Urinating in the street is prohibited. Although, official fines are not high, you might spend a lot of time at the police station proving that there are no public toilets around.
For stealing one can get a fine from $600 up to two years in prison. Stealing is never a good idea, even if you know nobody is watching you.
Drug posession (including marijuana). Drugs are illegal in Russia, but still are widely used. The law changed in May 2004 and now if you carry maximum 2 grams of marijuana or 0.5 grams of hash and can prove it's for your personal use, nobody can fine you, but you may be put in as a patient in a drug clinic and also asked where you got it. The laws on drugs are extremely strict, and it's better not to take a chance. You’re also not allowed to bring drugs over the border and on the plane. It also concerns strong medicines and you should seek advice from the Russian customs before bringing them in.
Also, we advise tourists visiting Russia to take into account the country's laws when buying antiques and works of art as souvenirs. Russian law bans cultural valuables such as art and religious objects, musical instruments and any museum exhibit from being taken out of the country without special permission. The fine is up to $40,000 or several years of prison.

Basic rules of personal safety

A foreign tourist might seem an easy victim, but - forewarned is forearmed. Use your common sense. Do not do things you would be afraid to do in your home country. Do not show you have cash or valuables. Also, stay away from deserted places during the day and avoid walking alone at night.  Avoid associating with strangers. There is no need to be scared, though. Just be careful. Russian people are very friendly and easy-going, but there are criminals in Russian society as well, and it would be careless to attract their attention.

In St Petersburg, as in any large city, you should watch out for pickpockets working in public places, such as on crowded public transport (especially at metro trains) or in markets and other tourist spots. Keep money and documents in inner pockets, try not to flash around money and valuables, don't leave your baggage unsupervised, have an eye on your handbag (it could be cut up and you will lose your purse). Stand as far as possible from Gypsies, including the children. Don't give them money and the like. You won't even notice when all your valuables have disappeared. Walking out late alone in deserted dark areas (courtyards and parks) or after drinking would make you a good target for offenders.

Thus, watch your step, as you go, to be safe and sound.
1. When you need help, seek help from young people: they are more likely to speak English or other foreign languages.
2. Avoid any lotteries, especially those near subway stations and markets.
3. Try not to wear jewellery in the evening
4. Whenever you are taken to the police station, request an interpreter and a lawyer or make a call to the Embassy. Refuse to sign any papers till your lawyer arrives.

Be warned about persons representing themselves as police, often around metro stations, and wanting to check your pockets, as you may find you lose money. Police are allowed to inspect you only at the police station.  If you are stopped in the street, dial (on your mobile phone):

• Your consulate helpline (make a note of this before you leave your own country):

for example for the British Consulate in St Petersburg, a British national should ring:

Tel: 320 3200 (Out of hours emergency telephone: mobile: 8-921 937 6377).

or

• special police help-line for foreigners: 578 30 94 (9:00 - 18:15) (The 24hr hotline is 702 21 77).  If you ring this number you need to ask for a translator. However, if you ring this number, you will most likely need your own translator to help you. If at first you don't succeed in getting the information you want or need, persist, because legally the police are obliged to help.

When you make your call, you need to explain the situation. You should obtain the officer's name, badge (ID) number, patrol car number and note where it happened.

If stopped in the street and requested to pay a fine, you should ask the officer's name, ID and ask to contact the Embassy. Your country’s Embassy can provide assistance, including raising such incidents with the appropriate authorities.

Police
Police in Russia is a structural part of the Ministry of the Interior (MVD). The policemen or Militsiya wear blue-grey uniforms with red bands on their caps. They might be spotted around metro stations, in parks and most public places where they perform ID checks. When stopped by a policeman present only copies of the documents not the originals. Make sure you have a copy of your passport, visa, migration card and the registration verification. Also, write down emergency phone numbers and your consulate phone to be able to contact it when needed. Beware of thieves dressed as militiamen.

The other branches of Militsiya are GIBDD or DPS (former GAI) – traffic police, OMON - a paramilitary force, RUOP - Regional Force against Organized Crime. FSB (former KGB) – Federal Security Service.
Stores, clubs, restaurants, banks and parking aeas are guarded by private security guards.