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Concern about document checks in St. Petersburg

Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Transport

Author	Message
MrSpice Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431	Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 7:03 pm    Post subject: Concern about document checks in St. Petersburg I heard from some people that visited Russia that there are frequent document checks on the subway stations and on the streets in St.Petersburg; and that they heard cases where people were detained by police without any reason (or because those people looked foreign/jewish/southern) so that relatives had to come to rescue and bribe those people out of jail/detention. I understand that this happens rarely. But the possibility of such thing scares the hell out of me. I am aware of the fact that I need to carry the original US passport on me in SpB all the time. I am curious if anyone was the victim of abuse by the Russian police and can share some information/advice on how to handle these situations. fyi: I was born in Russia and immigrated to the US many years ago, so I speak Russian fluently. But I am not sure whether this is something I should advertise when/if I am detained. Not to mention that people say that even though I don't notice it, my prononciation would differ from native St.Petersburg residents and everyone would know that I am not a local.
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KiwiGuy Frequent Guest Joined: 26 Oct 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Australia	Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:41 am    Post subject: Re: Concern about document checks in St. Petersburg MrSpice wrote: I am aware of the fact that I need to carry the original US passport on me in SpB all the time. You do not need to carry your passport with you all the time. If you do you are lining yourself up to be bribed. This is some advice from a friend who was in St Petersburg during xmas time 2 years ago. Also photocopy your passport and visa and carry this in a pocket with your real passport on your body. The army will ask you for it and then bribe you to give it back, we met at least 4 or 5 people this had happened to and they had to pay $100 US to get their passports back. When we showed them our photocopies they were not interested at all, some even walked away before we could open it up! Just tell them that your passport is at the hotel if they ask. At the end of the day, why risk carrying your original passport around when it can be pick-pocketed, can be mugged from you or seized by the militia and only given back upon payment of a bribe. Using photocopies is a far more practical option.
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Anna Lounge Lizard Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 91 Location: St. Petersburg, Russia	Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:47 am    Post subject: To pay anywhere with a credit card you need to have your passport, but just don't advertise you have it to everyone and don't carry it (as well as money) in pockets. Personally I haven't had any cases of id-check in my experience, but you'd better be prepared
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ashton Lounge Lizard Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 80 Location: US	Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 1:51 am    Post subject: I have never once been asked for my passport in Saint Petersburg. I always carried it with me just in case, but have never needed it other than to check into a hotel or something. I have seen other foreignors stopped and questioned if they were alone. I am always with Russians, so maybe that is why I never had it happen. I would carry some form of ID just in case.
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mattintucson Just Starting Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 2	Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 12:08 pm    Post subject: Stp Documents I was in StP for two weeks in October. I was never stopped once. Of course, I was wearing my "Russian man uniform"---dark clothes, dark leather jacket, dark street shoes--no Nikes or baseball caps! My "uniform" worked so well that I had Russians coming up to me asking for directions!!! If you look like an American tourist, I am sure you will be stopped. Do not carry one of those tourist backpacks or those silly waistbelt packs either. And, never have your camera hanging from any part of your body--keep it in your pocket. It seemed to me that the police were bored. Stopping tourists is probably just a way to break the boredom and make a few bucks. Bottom line: do not dress like an American and do not be paranoid. I walked all over StP and never had a problem. I had a great time and met alot of interesting people--including some beautiful Russian ladies. Matt
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pai0014 Just Starting Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 6	Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:15 pm    Post subject: I spent a week in StP and a week in Moscow during October and never had to produce my documents except at the hotels and when buying my train ticket. If anything I found the country to be more relaxed than the UK and the USA.
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