Moscow Health and Safety

Despite Muscovite paranoia about rising crime, visitors will mostly have little to fear. As in any big city, be on your guard against pickpockets and muggers, and watch out especially for gangs of children (generally referred to as 'gypsy kids'), who are after anything they can get their hands on. Beware of taxi drivers and thugs who hang around popular ex-pat watering holes late at night and prey on unsuspecting (or drunk) foreigners.

Certain members of the police will also bug anybody who doesn't look like a fair-haired Muscovite - practical advice from a Moscow synagogue is 'cover your kippa'. Other members of the police force target tourists. While document checks still occur randomly, but it is no longer the Red-Square plight that it used to be. Still, the odd diligent law enforcer invariably finds something wrong with their victim's visa or registration, even if it really is in perfect order, and the fine for this imaginary crime is often as much as 2000.00. Before handing over your documents, ask to see the officer's identification and write down the seven-digit number. Make sure he knows that you know who he is. Show the officer a photocopy of your passport and visa (made after you arrive in Moscow, so that your visa registration is visible). Do not hand over your passport. If you have a mobile (cell) phone, pull it out and tell the officer that you want to ring your embassy to have someone meet you at the police station.