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Is Russia safe for asian tourists? Goto page 1, 2  Next

Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian Contexts, Myths and Truths

Author	Message
rina Just Starting Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 4 Location: UK	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:51 am    Post subject: Is Russia safe for asian tourists? Please help! I have booked a holiday to Moscow and St Petersburg, but have read recent reports that the cities are experiencing alot of racial attacks. My party includes one asian (dark skinned) lady and a mixed race lady. Would you recommend the trip? I've heard that alot of russians are openly racist, none of the group speak russian, how do you think this will be communicated to us? Someone said asians can be spat at in the street, is this true? Is it also true that the police will continually stop asian people and fine them? Any help or advice would be grately appreciated.
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Entropy WayToRussified Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 429	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:09 am    Post subject: Racism overshadows Russian hospitality for foreign students AFP wrote: MOSCOW (AFP) - The beating of two Mongolian students in Saint Petersburg over the weekend put an ugly stamp on what increasingly resembles an epidemic of racist violence in Russia. The two needed hospital treatment after coming under attack from a gang of around 10 men Saturday in the metro system, police said. The incident in Russia's most picturesque city bore the hallmarks of a trend right across the country of unprovoked, often vicious attacks against non-whites -- an embarrassing problem that President Vladimir Putin's government has yet to prove capable of addressing. I found this article while browsing through the Russia section in Yahoo! news RSS feeds. I have no idea whether or not this is symptomatic of St. Petersburg. Perhaps those that reside or have visited St. Petersburg can comment further.
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CHeburashka Talk Show Host Joined: 23 Sep 2005 Posts: 218	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:04 am    Post subject: http://www.waytorussia.net/TalkLounge/quote-35204.html [edited -- pls when you post links to other forum topics could you use the format above "TalkLounge/quote-35204.html" The number can be changed, depending on what post number you're linking to. Thanks a lot! Dmitri]
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mediashark Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1599	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:50 pm    Post subject: I am asian. I lived here for 3 years and I wonder why I have missed out all the fun...
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Fire_Goddess Guest	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:47 pm    Post subject: Dont skin heads usually attack men?
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MrSpice Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:55 pm    Post subject: Fire_Goddess wrote: Dont skin heads usually attack men? This must be the dumbest question/response anyone has ever posted on this forum. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/14353248.htm http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/article_1155779.php/Two_Mongolian_students_attacked_in_Petersburg I think everyone should be concerned about this. However, we have to remember that most attack involve those who have lived in russia for many years. And one has to realize that we are talking about huge cities. Only St Petersburg has 5 mil residents and most asian and other tourists don't have any problems.
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rina Just Starting Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 4 Location: UK	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:10 pm    Post subject: Thanks, MrSpice, for your comments. The links you displayed clearly showed there is racism in Russia. Can I ask then, why you think the question - is russia safe for asians - is dumb?
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rina Just Starting Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 4 Location: UK	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:16 pm    Post subject: The only reason the question was posed in the first place was because all guide books (rough guide to lonely planet) have mentioned the difficulties asian travellers have had with locals, and also the police. The British embassey website also have a warning alert, and it has been announced that Putin, concerned at the level of attacks on tourists, is now installing panick buttons along St Petersburg shopping streets. Only a fool would embark on a journey without first taking advice from all around.
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Fire_Goddess Guest	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:19 pm    Post subject: MrSpice wrote: Fire_Goddess wrote: Dont skin heads usually attack men? This must be the dumbest question/response anyone has ever posted on this forum. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/14353248.htm http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/article_1155779.php/Two_Mongolian_students_attacked_in_Petersburg I think everyone should be concerned about this. However, we have to remember that most attack involve those who have lived in russia for many years. And one has to realize that we are talking about huge cities. Only St Petersburg has 5 mil residents and most asian and other tourists don't have any problems. It was a question, considering in California we have many skin heads yet never hear about them targeting women, but as usual you try to be insulting. How many asian women have been targeted by skin heads in Russia MrSpice? If you dont know then I suggest you shut up!
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wavetossed WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 339	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:24 pm    Post subject: Most of these problems are in one city, St Petersburg. If it worries you then don't go to that city. Moscow is much more cosmopolitan and has lots of tourists in it. Or, you could go to a city with more multi-racial Russians like Kazan. Russia is an interesting country, wherever you go in it. There are more darker-skinned black-haired people in southern Russia but then, most tourists stay away from there because of the terrorist activities in Dagestan near Chechnya. By the way, Americans would say that you are "east indian".
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MrSpice Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3431	Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:15 pm    Post subject: rina wrote: Thanks, MrSpice, for your comments. The links you displayed clearly showed there is racism in Russia. Can I ask then, why you think the question - is russia safe for asians - is dumb? No, I think you asked a great question. I was commention no Fire_G. question whether the crimes only targeted males as if racists feel better about women. In any case, I think going to major russian cities like Moscow and ST Petersburg, especially with an organized group is pretty safe. If you're going to stick to the center of the city and other major attractions, you're not like to have any problems. Russia is a huge country. Moscow alone has over 10 million residents. So these attacks are still rather rare.
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mister_wizzz VIP Joined: 27 May 2004 Posts: 582	Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:16 pm    Post subject: Fire_Goddess wrote: MrSpice wrote: Fire_Goddess wrote: Dont skin heads usually attack men? This must be the dumbest question/response anyone has ever posted on this forum. http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/14353248.htm http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/article_1155779.php/Two_Mongolian_students_attacked_in_Petersburg I think everyone should be concerned about this. However, we have to remember that most attack involve those who have lived in russia for many years. And one has to realize that we are talking about huge cities. Only St Petersburg has 5 mil residents and most asian and other tourists don't have any problems. It was a question, considering in California we have many skin heads yet never hear about them targeting women, but as usual you try to be insulting. How many asian women have been targeted by skin heads in Russia MrSpice? If you dont know then I suggest you shut up! Well, may be skin heads in California are "gentlemen" Or they simply give the job to female skin heads
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pcg856 Frequent Guest Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 39 Location: New York	Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 12:33 am    Post subject: There is racism in every part of the world. Skin heads in California are not the problem,the Latino gangs control California,Skin heads will not mess with these gangs because they are so out number.
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Ronin Frequent Guest Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 13 Location: S.F. South Bay, California	Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 7:20 am    Post subject: Russia has skin heads as well as many other countries. I wouldn't want to be in a town where they are holding a rally. As with visiting any foreign country, one has to use common sense or be there at there own risk. Might I add that it was risky for Asians living in the USA during and after WWII. Just got to learn to dodge the bats and out run the thugs. Ronin <deleted link--no advertising.> Last edited by Ronin on Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:24 am; edited 1 time in total
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Xela VIP Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Posts: 781 Location: Shanghai	Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 11:15 am    Post subject: Why outrun them? Why not stand your ground and pick up a bat yourself and swing for the skull? That makes more sense to me. They started it, after all. I must say, Ronin, that I don't agree that skinheads are like that everywhere though.. In Britain(the country which gave the world skinheads, thank you very much) skinheads do not run around like in Russia doing such things, and if ever they do, you quickly find a bunch of Pakistanis rushing down there with weapons of their own, setting alight to things and beating them up. So what makes Russia so different? It's because the people and the government turn a blind eye. They secretly don't care that it happens. It helps give them a sense of being 'Russian'. LOL. The skinheads are cowards, though.. The second they come across mafia they run and hide like chickens, because they know their beliefs will cost them a bullet. So what do they do? They go and stab little 9 year old girls instead(which is an all-time low even for cowards).. They are not to be feared. They are to be fought.
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