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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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 Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 9:17 am Post subject: Kidnapping story - should I be afraid for my safety? |
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I think some people on this board heard about this story when the israeli businessman was kidnapped on Nevski Prospect:
http://mosnews.com/news/2005/02/16/surisfreed.shtml
I am plan to visit St Petersburg this June and I am a bit worried about the possibility that I can be followed when I come out of the hotel on Nevski or some other place. I know it may sound paranoid or crazy and people can say that crime happens everywhere and many large big cities are just as dangerous, if not more dangerous. But I feel that the risk in russia is higher because the law enforcement is weak; people are on average poorer than in the west and quite a few people have misconception that Americans are rich - and some are by Russian standards.
What do you people think about it? Should I worry about it, seriously?
Obviously, I will follow the basic rules of common sense (not go out by foot at night, not visiting remote areas, etc.). But if I stay at an expensive hotel on Nevski, should I worry about my safety, possibility of being followed and becoming a victim? |
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Camrade
VIP
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 516
Location: Санкт-Петербург
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| Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:50 am Post subject: |
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2MrSpice
certainly you'll be kidnapped as soon as you stepped on russian land... 
to talk seriously: don't worry - even in the night you woun't be taken by evil "bandits"... espescially in Spb. If you want to be kidnapped - I advice you to visit Grozny... maybe you'll be 'lucky'. |
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vorteks
VIP
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
Posts: 571
Location: European Union
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| Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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No, MrSpice, Russia is not Columbia  But beware your visible goods, they are the only ones that likely to be "kidnapped". Take caution while withdrawing cash in public atms, since they might have a spying cam trying to read your pin : prefer indoor atms in banks or luxury hotels. There are crimes commited in big towns, but they very unlikely target tourists. As you stated, the man was a businessman who owned lots of money to russian financial interests...not the wisest situation. |
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Skip
Talk Show Host
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 283
Location: Planet Warez
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| Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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See your pharmacist before you leave and rent one of those new fangled satellite trackable suppositories, and have a few cyanide pellets sewn into the lining of your clothes to wit...
I think you've been living in Cloud Cuckooland and watching too many older movies on the cold war era of Soviet history... tourists who stay clear of the danger satellite FSU countries like Chechnia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia etc are never at serious risk of kidnap providing they're not trying to muscle in on anything criminal and upset any of the Russian criminal fraternity... 
When Camrade stops laughing I'm sure he will tell you that he agrees with me and that you ought to be perfectly safe!!!  |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Skip,
I had lived in St Petersburg for more than 20 years and I also follow russian news through russian and american publications regularly. I wanted to get a serious answer to a serious question. Even if the probablity of something like that happening is low, I wanted to know people's take on the story. I know how unreliable russian police service is. You really cannot trust them to help you. Trust me -- I know. |
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Skip
Talk Show Host
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Posts: 283
Location: Planet Warez
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Well, the magic bullet was so you could be traced... and the cyanide was so your could opt out if necessary...
How many Western tourists do get kidnapped in SPB fer' Christs sake?!?
I think you'd get better odds in a turf accountants on protecting yourself with a tin hat from falling asteroids... |
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Camrade
VIP
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 516
Location: Санкт-Петербург
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| Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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2MrSpice
well, if you are paranoid you should be afraid of that... if not.. |
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maximillian64
Just Starting
Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 1
Location: St. Petersburg, Zurich
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| Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2005 9:13 am Post subject: beeing Kidnapped |
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I just had a look on the article and found 2 remarkable facts.
1. 6 Million € in a Sherbank account (a bank as known for full tranceparency to anyone wearing or imposing to wear an uniform in russia - imho - it is not a bank from liechtenstein...)
2. Trouble with Business Partners here.
As long as you avoid both of the above
- the possibility to getting fetched by nice neighbours is a little as anywhere in the world.
And from result of the adventures of the kidnapped businessman, he knowed the rules and the game,
"his mafia was better then the mafia of the others and he got finaly freed"
I just smiled thinking what would happend if iI would tag my value on my hat (nothing else is putting money into shberbank) and run around any metropolis and starting arguments with the local gangs i do my business with.
To make the story short, as for i guess your want to come as a tourist you are not in danger, else
when did you wanted to come ? |
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