Way to Russia Community and Forum

MikeFlorida · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:37 am Post subject: nichy voh

I was in SPB all last summer and wasnt stopped a single time. It might have just been luck but if you look presentable and dont mess around I think the general tone in Rf these days is to be as tourist friendly as possible.

I was even checked at the border and had more vodka than the legal limit and just got a smile and waved through.

Frankly I had NO problems at all this summer which was alot different from my trip to Moscow a few years ago.

Vic · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:35 pm Post subject:

Russia is like any country. You have to know your rights. They may try to bullshit you (I have heard about this on rare occasions) fact is, he has to prove that YOU are wrong. Not the other way around, here it is 'innocent untill proven guilty'. All of my experinces with the Militia have been good/pleasant and I lived in Moscow for 3 years...although I am a Russian citizen. The only problem I had was that when we moved to Moscow, I was getting my passport changed and had NO documents whatsoever, the second problem: we just bought an apartment and I was in working clothes all dirty taking out construction trash to the dumpster outside. Up come 4 cops, salute me and ask for documents, I tell them the story, they dont buy it (I don't blame them, they can't believe everything they hear) so they drive me to the station, put me in a cell for 5 minutes untill some Major was ready to see me, invites me in, asks for name, place of birth, place of registry. I tell him my name, that I was born in Omsk and that I was last registered there (I didn't get my Moscow 'propiska' or registry yet) so then he fills out a protocol and makes me pay a 100 rouble fine. Not bad at all, he was doing his job and I broke the law although it was only half my fault, but I still broke it, I paid the fine (thank god it was that small...last october they raised it to 1600 roubles) and I was pleased to see the way that they function...very professional. They even let me see the info they had about me in their computer Very Happy

(they had to do a backround check based on the info I gave them)...nothing interesting though Sad

just place of birth and stuff like that and the line that said "No convictions" Smile

So after one hour there, they released me and the Major even asked one of his patrols that was going by my apt to drop me off!
Oh, I had one more experience (just before new years last year) when my cell phone was stolen, the experience was also a good one. They used the manufacturer's code (that I had previously written down - its the code that is on the cell phone between the battery and the body) to find the phone number of the guy who put his SIM card into it next, used his telephone number to get his place of residence (when you register a SIM card, the operator always asks for your passport) and the next day we drove to the guy's apartment, asked to see him, he showed the phone and I confirmed that it was mine, showed the charger and the manual (which both had the corresponding numbers to the phone) the guy claimed he 'bought' it at the market yesterday...maybe he was telling the truth, maybe it was BS, whatever, I got my phone back, but for lack of evidence (since there was no was to prove that it was HIM that stole the phone) they just gave him a warning and left him at that.
If you know your rights and if you talk to them nicely, they are ok/good people that do their job well. If you start making demands of them or show that you take their bullshit, they may screw you. I have never given a bribe in my life and if they ever tried to 'scam' me (I have never had this happen and I have never heard this from anyone first-hand) which I doubt that they actually do, I would play along with their bullshit, ask to see their ID's (its your right to ask them) remember their names and the last 3 numbers of the ID code and then go to the FSB about this. The FSB is more or less cracking down on this crap and they will be glad to help you, the only problem is that it will use up some of your time. But if you are a law abiding citizen like myself you should do this. Oh, I also go by the principle of "You screw me, I screw you" so that is why I will go out of my way to get what is entitled to me. Like that phone that was stolen, it was an old LG W3000 that cost about 1000p max, and after getting it back I gave it to my cousin in Lithuania since I bought a [nice] replacement.

Camrade · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject:

russian police rules ))))

Vic · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:20 pm Post subject:

nicmac · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject: Security Checks

I will add my recent experiences, one of which cost me 613,000 Roubles
.
In St Petersburg I had no problems with police checks ... either by myself or with my Belorussian friend. By myself in Moscow, I also had no problems .... I was not even asked for documentation.

In Belarus, if you drive, especially in a rental vehicle, you will be checked numerous times each day in Minsk and on both major and minor highways, several times each trip you make. Although I was with a Russsian speaking friend who did not always get out of the vehicle, I had no trouble. I showed my documents and was met with a stiff, but courteous reception. My Russian is not good. Several times, the police did not know I had a Russian-speaking companion in the vehicle with me, yet the treatment was always the same. In fact, it was the same professional treatment I would get from an Australian police officer at home. I had all my documents correct.

However, 2 days before I was due to leave Minsk, we were visited by three police and "another" security person at my friend's apartment at 12.30 in the morning. Someone did not like me staying there ... and had called the police. They went through my documents and my friend's details until they found a "problem" with my official invitation. I do not still understand the details, but I think it was something about my friend not owning or 'officially residing' at the apartment that we were staying in. To make a long story short, after an overnight stay in the police station, and a day-and-a-half of interrogation, I was informed that an application fee of 613,000 roubles was needed. Otherwise, I could be technically classed as an illegal immigrant.

Be careful. Have the proper douments.

wwwadim · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 11:31 pm Post subject:

Russian militia - awful, slovenly, drunk and opposite. Also they frequently are cowardly and corrupt.
The drunk militiaman while reached a house - he has been beaten.

Joint drinking of employees of a local police station.
http://www.musora.ru/gallery/files/0/DSCF1167.jpg
By the way, really russian men Very Happy

After that moment, they will extort money from this person
http://www.musora.ru/gallery/files/0/_949191.jpg

At us speak, that there are mean militiamen who name a rough word "kozly" (you can be killed for such word in the Russian prison if you tell it to address of the authority prisoner). And there are also fair and brave militiamen whom the mafia likes to name validly "menty". They work at own risk. Good guys!

It is necessary to tell, that my friend works in patrol - sentry duty "ППС" in the Moscow region. They frequently patrol areas where living illegal city dwellers. Daily they extort from each illegal immigrant family on 50 dollars. It is awful!

cyndy22 · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:50 am Post subject:

wwwadim,
Your post about Russian Policia does make me nervous. But I aLSO KNOW THAT SOME POLICE in many cities of the world, are not so honest and law abiding. I don't wish to be disrespectful to police in general because most are good helpful citizens.

I must assume here that the police you speak of are a minority of the Moscow area policia. It is sad and disturbing when ever someone hears about police, criminals or other dark characters persecuting innocent people. I have to think however that most people are good. In fact I know this is true.........

Camrade · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 10:45 am Post subject:

2cyndy22

don't get nervous
wwadim was probably offended by russian police so he hates it Smile

Actually people are different and policemen are different either... I can't say that all of them are drunken bastards. Moreover I haven't seen drunken policemen yet Smile

wwwadim · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 1:08 pm Post subject:

Oh no, I think, that there is no need to take offence at many idiots from the Russian militia. Smile

The majority of them are young 18-21-ages guys who do not want to go in army and go in militia. Frequently they silly and doomies and very much want to prove to be heroes, beating drunked people, older persons and visitors of guys from Tadjikistan and Armenia which do not have Russian passport.

As to me I am a respectable citizen also I am not afraid of the fair attitude of militia to me. But I hate, when the militia selects of mobile phones at the tipsy citizens, money and frequently beats them.

I can give an example with my father whom have arrested at station of the city of Tula (200 km from Moscow). He has arrived Tula on a visit to the friend, in a train he has drunk some beer, why he was a little drunk. At station he have met these "goats" Smile

and the have allocated him to police station. Before have selected at him for 150 dollars. Have kept him under arrest for 10 hours, and have let off in the morning. When to him have returned his bag there there were no many personal things. They were cheap, such as a towel, a replaceable shirt and so forth. What for it is necessary for militia?

They could not arrest him at all, and simply lead to the house of his friend up to which to go there were 10 minutes from station.

El-Casey · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 7:49 pm Post subject:

On the one hand I have to agree with Cyndy, as there are plenty of crooked cops in the United States and elsewhere, not just in Russia or the "third world." I am personally acquainted with several cops who have admitted to taking marijuana from citizens they have stopped for their own use, rather than arresting them (idiotic, but it's the law) and turning the marijuana in as evidence. There are plenty of documented cases of police officers accepting drugs, money or sexual favors in return for not prosecuting. Detectives and "beat cops" (patrolmen, same as regular militia) are often on the take in large cities and protect drug dealers and organized criminals in exchange for payoffs. It's not just Russia.

On the other hand, the problems with police corruption in Russia (and in the ineffectiveness of a conscripted military) are systemic - paying a cop the equivalent of $150/month is a good way to basically force him (her?) to be corrupt and accept bribes. It's all about a "living wage," something that is also missing in the US. High standards of living = high levels of integrity - it's just that simple.

DashaM · Just Starting Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 3

Guys,

we'll be making a russian visa for my husband soon. he is going to get a "tourist" visa, and i think some agencies in US (internet ones) do that for you, they make up some sort of invitation from a certain hotel.......

So, the deal is that we, of course, not gonna be staying at that hotel, (actually at an appartment in the suburb)....

If the cops stop him and ask his paperwork (by that time i hope we can get it stamped or whatever), is he supposed to tell them he is staying at that hotel???????????

Question

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599

If your registration says he is staying at the hotel, give him the official story--he is staying at the hotel. Why and how is really none of their business. If they have a problem with that, threaten to call your embassy.

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

DashaM: What your husband is doing is what I did last summer when I went to St Petersburg. I got this invitation made by an agency that had a hotel that I did not plan on staying which is just a formality. When you arrive in russia, you have to specify where you are staying in the arrival form. What I did, i put the actual hotel where I was really staying. That's where husband will register your visa when you arrive at the hotel. So when the police checks the documents on the street, they will want to see his passport and registration, not the invitation. Invitatino is a formality in order to get the visa. In other words, I would forget about that ficticious hotel that was specified in the invitation. I believe that your husband will have no problem if he properly registers at the hotel he is staying. I also believe that mediashark is wrong about this.

Devushka · Frequent Guest Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

Been to Moscow and St. Petersburg a couple of times and never had this happen to me...then again, I usually pass for Russian for some reason. (People always ask me directions LOL). Anyway, never had a problem but I guess it can happen.

Schneeflocke · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject:

Destinations

Moscow Trans-Siberian Golden Ring Irkutsk	St. Petersburg Baikal Lake Ekaterinburg Vladivostok other...


Travel Services

Visa Support Transfers / Taxi	Train Tickets Phone Cards

Way to Russia Community and Forum

If you have a question or want to help someone, please, go to
Way to Russia Forum on our Facebook page.

We also invite you to join our Facebook community, where you can meet other travelers and read interesting news on topics ranging from visa regulations to culture and music.

We are currently moving the old forum to Facebook, so what you see below functions as an archive.

If you have a question, please, post it on
Way to Russia Facebook Discussions Page

Recent Site Activity:

Recent Blog Activity:

	Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> St. Petersburg	All times are GMT + 3 Hours Goto page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 Next
Page 2 of 4

Way to Russia Community and Forum

If you have a question or want to help someone, please, go to Way to Russia Forum on our Facebook page. We also invite you to join our Facebook community, where you can meet other travelers and read interesting news on topics ranging from visa regulations to culture and music.

We are currently moving the old forum to Facebook, so what you see below functions as an archive. If you have a question, please, post it on Way to Russia Facebook Discussions Page

Recent Site Activity:

Recent Blog Activity:

If you have a question or want to help someone, please, go to
Way to Russia Forum on our Facebook page.

We also invite you to join our Facebook community, where you can meet other travelers and read interesting news on topics ranging from visa regulations to culture and music.

We are currently moving the old forum to Facebook, so what you see below functions as an archive.

If you have a question, please, post it on
Way to Russia Facebook Discussions Page