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CRIME: Racial and ethnic minorities continue to be victims of unprovoked,
violent harassment throughout the Russian Federation. The U.S. Embassy and
Consulates General continue to receive reports of U.S. citizens, often
members of minority groups, victimized in violent attacks by "skinheads" or
other extremists. Be cautious in areas frequented by these types and
wherever large crowds have gathered. U.S. citizens most at risk are those
of African, South Asian, or East Asian descent, or those who, because of
their complexion, are perceived to be from the Caucasus region or the Middle
East. These U.S. citizens are also at risk for harassment by police
authorities.
While visiting Russia, be alert to your surroundings. In large cities, take
the same precautions against assault, robbery, or pickpockets that you would
take in any large U.S. city: keep wallets in inner front pockets, carry
purses tucked securely under arms, wear the shoulder strap of cameras or
bags across the chest, walk away from the curb, and carry purses and other
bags away from the street. The most vulnerable areas include underground
walkways and the subway, overnight trains, train stations, airports,
markets, tourist attractions, and restaurants. Foreigners who have been
drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or
around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Some travelers have been
drugged at bars, while others have taken strangers back to their lodgings,
where they were drugged, robbed and/or assaulted.
The Russian media report that the drug GHB is reportedly gaining popularity
in local nightclubs, under the names butyrate or oxybutyrate. This drug can
knock you unconscious, give you amnesia, and even kill you. Typically it's
in the form of a capful of liquid mixed with a beverage. Pay attention to
your surroundings in these clubs.
In many cases, thieves use stolen credit cards immediately. If your credit
card or ATM card is stolen, report it to the credit card company or issuing
bank right away. Be vigilant in bus and train stations and on public
transport. Bogus trolley inspectors, whose aim is to extort a bribe from
individuals while checking for trolley tickets, are also a threat. We
recommend traveling in groups organized by reputable tour agencies whenever
possible. We discourage the use of unmarked taxis as passengers have been
victims of robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and theft. The criminals using
these taxis to rob passengers often wait outside bars or restaurants to find
passengers who have been drinking and are therefore more susceptible to
robbery. Robberies may also occur in taxis shared with strangers. Although
there are few registered taxi services in Russia, you should always use
authorized services when arriving at a major airport.
A common street scam in Russia is the "turkey drop" in which an individual
"accidentally" drops money on the ground in front of an intended victim,
while an accomplice either waits for the money to be picked up, or picks up
the money him/herself and offers to split it with the pedestrian. The
individual who dropped the currency then returns, aggressively accusing both
of stealing the money. This confrontation generally results in the
pedestrian's money being stolen. Avoidance is the best defense. Do not get
trapped into picking up the money, and walk quickly away from the scene. To
avoid highway crime, try not to drive at night, especially when alone, and
do not sleep in your vehicle on the side of the road. Do not pick up
hitchhikers; they pose a threat to your physical safety and also put you in
danger of being arrested for unwittingly transporting narcotics.
Extortion and corruption are common in the business environment. Business
disputes may involve threats of violence and even acts of violence.
Organized criminal groups and sometimes local police target foreign
businesses in many cities and have been known to demand protection money.
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable. Please report all extortion
attempts to the Russian authorities and inform consular officials at the
U.S. Embassy or nearest Consulate General.
Certain activities that would be normal business activities in the United
States and other countries are either illegal under the Russian legal code
or are considered suspect by the FSB (Federal Security Service). There are
particular risks involved in any commercial activity with the Russian
military-industrial complex, including research institutes, design bureaus,
production facilities or other high technology, government-related
institutions. Any misunderstanding or dispute in such transactions can
attract the involvement of the security services and lead to investigation
or prosecution for espionage. Rules governing the treatment of information
remain poorly defined.
It is not uncommon for foreigners in general to become victims of
harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by law enforcement and other
officials. Police do not need to show probable cause in order to stop,
question, or detain individuals. If stopped, obtain the officer's name,
badge number, and patrol car number, and note where the stop happened, as
this information assists local officials in identifying the perpetrators.
Authorities are concerned about these incidents and have cooperated in
investigating such cases. Report crimes to the U.S. Embassy or the nearest
Consulate General.
Roadside checkpoints are commonplace. These checkpoints are ostensibly in
place to detect narcotics, alien smuggling, and firearms violations;
however, they are sometimes used by traffic police to extract cash "fines."
See paragraph under Crime on mistreatment by police.
Bob
