Way to Russia Community and Forum

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

I spoke to some people living in Russia right now and they say that militia often stops people for document checks in the subway/metro. Has anyone had any problems with militia during these checks (them looking for bribes, etc.)?

vorteks · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

It happens often, you ll find lots of reports about this all over the web. You can minimize your risks tho by :

Keeping your papers updated on you.
Dressing like a russian (dark clothes and plastic bag)
Keeping the phone number of your ambassy and phoning them if you feel you are getting scammed.

Camrade · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:05 pm Post subject:

it's a kind of security patrol... sort of fighting with terrorism blah-blah-blah
if you have non-russian appearence (espescially caucasian) you can be easily stopped
i've been stopped once cause i was in military style clothes Smile

and they considered me as a skinhead (btw, my head wasn't bald Smile

) but i was just returning from friend's 'dacha' Smile

they checked my bag, looked at my documents and let to go away
if you stopped by the patrol don't be afraid, just show them your documents

btw, where in the web i can read about those reports about it? it's quite interesting to read

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

How would the phone number of my embassy help me? Would I make a call while I am being scammed? Come on...

I spoke to native russians that live in Russia right now and they are being stopped once in a while.

I will have updated documents. I just wanted to find out whether some people were scammed/harrased by militia or were forced to give militia money so that they would leave the tourist alone.

zinku120 · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 9:48 pm Post subject:

I was stopped once on my first visit. It was one of the train stations in Moscow, early morning, and I was returning from St. Peters. I'd everything with me, in proper condition. However, I had to pay 50 roubles to get my passport back. I guess my total lack of Russian was a factor. But I'd have preferred to pay those 50 roubles and get it done with, rather than wasting at least half a day in getting rid of corrpution among the militia!

With better language skills, you can just ask to see their boss, which should solve the problem. Calling embassy etc. is a waste of time if the matter is not so serious. But keep your documents with you.

And I presume that outside the 2 big cities, its less of a problem - foreigners are more of a novelty than somebody to make money off.

Camrade · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject:

2MrSpice
if your documents are okay, don't worry about militiaguys Wink

but if they find any infringements just give them some money - 100 rubles. If infrigments are serious bribe woun't help but suppose police woun't take your mobile and you'll be able to phone your embassy... but if you're not going to break russian laws, sell drugs, kill anyone etc, and you're just a tourist there shouldn't be any problems..

vorteks · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject:

Camrade, you know how to make a search on google dont you Wink

The ambassy argument is to be used of course only when the scam is getting too far. We met 2 australian travellers in Kazan who escaped a big fine that way.Remember that those guys earn 100-200 dollars a month, with a cost of living fairly similar to western standards, especially in Moscow. So they need to get the cash from somewhere else than public funds to make a living.

My own experiences were very positive. I got stopped about 5 times for excessive speed and never got a ticket. I refused to pay a night fee in a bar in Kazan and the militia guy agreed I was right. In Moscow i never got stopped since I looked like a russian. But i think i got lucky because many foreigners report about being blackmailed about imaginary visa problems and prefer to pay a bribe than spend a few hours in the police station on papers check.

Out of Moscow and St Pete, I would still be cautious with militia in Tatarstan, much more numerous and aggressive than in other parts of Russia.

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431

[quote]But i think i got lucky because many foreigners report about being blackmailed about imaginary visa problems and prefer to pay a bribe than spend a few hours in the police station on papers check.[/quote]

I would like to know if anyone exprienced something like this first-hand.

Regarding cell phones, is there a place to rent a cell phone in SpB? How expensive is it?

Camrade · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 1:20 am Post subject:

2vorteks
yeah, i've been to tatarstan many times
local militia are complete assholes, you're right... but sometimes you can 'meet' honest militiaman which is quite rare certainly.

UsualSuspect · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:27 am Post subject: My experiences

Here's mine from my own "Holiday from Hell"....

The outline is this : Miss train in Vladivostok, reorganise entire trip on the fly and take off two days later. I was stopped by Militia twice in Vladik, no problem.
Get to Krasnoyarsk and miss my girl there, so while I am lugging my bags around I sit down and lo an behold, I am dragged off for a two hour meeting with the local friendly Militia. No problems there other than my girl wondering whether I'd been killed or kidnapped.

After this I get to Moscow, pick up my St P tickets and proceed to spend the day wandering around Moscow....here is the kicker.....my Visa hasn't been registered because I not spent more than 72 hours anywhere except on the train.....

Whilst gazing at Lenin's Mausoleum I am approached by a Militia dude who asks for my papers. Next up begins a spiel about speaking English etc etc...He has a notebook with phrases and as I read it upside down I knew he was going to put the hard word on me for a bribe. What to do?? My Russian was basic, and could I spend three hours in detention and wind up signing something in cyrillic I had no idea about? So I decided to make the B**stard sweat and do a song and dance for me. After about 20 minutes of the "dumbstruck tourist" I just asked him "skolka?" And the sod wanted 1500 roubles "so I would have no problems around red square, anyone stops you, you tell them to see me "....I told him I didn't have that much on me and showed him my wallet which had about 250 roubles in it and he saw my Visa card and promptly frog-marched me to the nearest ATM!!!

On subsequent trips I've been stopped and that's all.

The Red Square thing is somewhat common in Red Square according to other anecdotal evidence.

Moral? I was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I haven't had it happen to me in subsequent trips.
I should have tagged along with some other people but first and foremost my papers should have been in perfect order....that way, no argument........

Enjoy
Usualsuspect

cyndy22 · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:11 am Post subject:

Vorteks, If that is you in the photo, Oh my God! You are SOOOOO sexy...Are you Russian by sweet young thing??
It really doesn't even matter if you are Russian honey. One night with you is all a girl can dream about. Isn't thjat right Polska?

UsualSuspect,
I for one appreciate your candid experiemnces re Russian Militia. You are a very cool dude. How did you meet your wife anyway? dO YOU LIVE IN THE LAND DOWN UNDER?

greg222 · VIP Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 599

I must be very obviously foreign since I seem to get stopped at least once a fortnight. I've been asked for bribes for some technicality twice (they reckoned my stamp wasn't in the right place). I argued with them mainly in Russian but whenever they'd ask me for money I'd claim I didn't understand what they meant. They get bored and move on after 20 minutes or so.

I'd be interested in people's opinions on my first bribe experience. We had flagged down a car and gave him the address of a club. The driver took us way out to the outskirts where we were pulled over by a cop car. As it happened my friend only had a photocopy of his documents. So they separated us and talked to us each separately. I was taken to the cop car where I was told this was very serious and my friend could go to jail. Upshot was he wanted 1000 roubles. I said I didn't have it and eventually we were let go. The driver said he'd taken us to the right spot and that we must have got the address wrong. You all think that was a set-up or just a coincidence?

Camrade · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:50 am Post subject:

2Cyndy
sorry to dissappoint you but - http://www.graffitipress.it/Reportage/2003RussianMilitia it's not vortex Smile

droog-wtr

Three days ago my friend who is English but looks a little Mediterranean was stopped and asked for his passport at the token gates to Alexander Nevskava Ploshad Metro. He did not have his passport with him but said that it was in the Gasteenitsa Moskva where we were staying. They did not give him any hassle and let him pass. In some instances the Russian police get a bad press, with the terrorist events they have had recently it is no wonder that they are a little jumpy. Police on the make for bribes is not something that is limited to Russia. If they are only on $300 a month and have kids to bring up what do you expect?. Poverty breeds corruption I'm afraid. Russia is a country were you are going to see the extremes of poverty & wealth but you can be sure that most of the Russians you meet will be geniune, friendly and helpfull. If you make the effort to use their language a little they will give you respect and hospitality. The thing is you can buy a Packet of Marlboro Lights for less than a Dollar in a kiosk but if you're not careful and don't set the price you might get charged £60 for a short taxi ride. You've got to keep your wits about you whilst also enjoying yourself. See it as a challenge and an adventure. If you F*ck up a bit on the way well put it down to experience. Patience and a Sense of Humour are invaluable. Also a bit of hard nosed front occasionally. Its a wonderful place really!

vorteks · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:04 pm Post subject:

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