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should I bring my passport out?

 
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sheep
Just Starting


Joined: 15 Aug 2006
Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:32 pm    Post subject: should I bring my passport out? Reply with quote

I read about the police scam (some police will stop u in the street and ask for your passport & money) in Russia the other day. Lonely planet suggest us to bring a passport copy instead of real passport out.

Just wonder do we need to bring our real passort with us in Russia and what should I do if I don't want to fall into such scam? Question
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599

PostPosted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you bring your passport out, just don't let the policemen take it in their hands. They have no right to ask you to hand it over. Oh, a cell phone with a number to your embassy's counsulate helps too.

I usually just turn up my walkman and ignore them if I know for sure they are not authorised (they are a cadet or 'commercial' guard) to check documents.
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Oleg
Frequent Guest


Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 50
Location: St-Petersburg, Russia

PostPosted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mediashark wrote:
If you bring your passport out, just don't let the policemen take it in their hands. They have no right to ask you to hand it over.

They have the right to check documents.
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599

PostPosted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

to check, yes, but not to take!
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Rick
Moderator


Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Êàñàáëàíêà

PostPosted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I took a copy out for the past few days. So did a few other guys in the place I was staying with and were quite well-traveled in Russia (one had studied and lived there for well over a year). Main reason for me though was that I could not stand a wallet that I had hanging around my neck any longer...
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Sparks
Frequent Guest


Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 22
Location: Sao Paulo - Brazil

PostPosted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mediashark wrote:
If you bring your passport out, just don't let the policemen take it in their hands. They have no right to ask you to hand it over. Oh, a cell phone with a number to your embassy's counsulate helps too.

I usually just turn up my walkman and ignore them if I know for sure they are not authorised (they are a cadet or 'commercial' guard) to check documents.


I don’t understand. How is the authority supposed to examine the person’s documents without taking it in his hands?

Besides, how are you to stop the guard from taking it in his hands if he wants to? You simply say, “no, you can’t take it”? I mean, sounds like it could cause more trouble. He is the authority - I think there isn’t much the ordinary citizen or foreigner can do besides trying to talk or buy his way out of the situation...
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