Leningradskaya Oblast' Travel Forum

Hello, I plan to travel tSt. Petersburg with my mom next year (around end March). But I got freaked out a bit when I read a news article about a Vietnamese student that got attacked, and other posts in other boards that talked about racial discriminiation against Asians in Russia. Some say that the unrest caused by Chechen insurgents have made some Russians jumpy and security has been tightened (notorious passport checks!) . We are hiring a private tour guide for 7 days, but the guide won't be with us 24/7, especially during the overnight trainride from St. Petersburg to Moscow. That worries me, because skinheads reportedly hang-around the metro for victims. Would it be safe for 2 chinese ladies to travel to St. Petersburg next year? I would appreciate everyone's thoughts on this matter, especially from other Asians who have travelled to Russia.

That depends of course, but generally I expect the SPB Underground to be safe even at night (it closes at midnight and is always overcrowded). Trains, especially SPb-Moscow trains, are safe. You are fine if you observe obvious precautions and do not walk in the suburbs at night (In 99% of all other cases you are safe, too, just in case). This is all assuming the situation will stay till March in the same state as now.

What I wrote may not sound too inviting, and the problem definitely exists, but as a traveller (especially too ladies) you are really VERY unlikely to encounter it, unless you made some efforts to. Do not worry, come and enjoy your trip.

Hi,

I do not think than Chinees look like Chechens ;-)

As of passport checks... Have all your legal documents (passport, visa, registration) with you and everything will be OK. As of registration rules read some previous forum discussions on VT.

Please treat it with understanding. According to the UN report Russia is the second after USA country for the number of immigrants. And half of them are here on illegal basis. There are some ethnic criminal groups ("mafias") including asian ones (mainly Vietnamese). That is why immigration laws (even for tourists) are rather difficult and severe but not impracticable. So, some more patience and you will enjoy your journey.

BTW police is suspisious to Chinees only in Eastern regions (Russian Far East, Amur region, etc.), in Moscow and St.Peterburg there are almost none of illegal Chinees immigrants. So, "suspicious person" looks different for them here. ;-)))

Good luck,
Pavel

I think it's the safest places in Russia - Moscow and St.Petersburg, isn't it? soon I'll begin to collect stories about Russia: white beers in the Red Square and drunk people during who go on to drink over a whole day. :-)) Moscow and St.Petersburg are USUAL big cities like many others of the world.

I think you are being overly concerned about the possible danger. At least from my vantage point of living in St Petersburg, the skin-head problem does not effect tourist areas at all. There are a few thousand skin heads and they mostly stay out of the city center. I hardly ever see them except at rock concerts where they try to congragate but are stopped by the police who have started just rounding them up before the music starts. Asians are a common sight here, as toursists and residents with no one paying any special attention. Both Moscow and St Petersburg are truly international cities where all nationalities and races are seen daily. St Petersburg has less tight security and visa checks are not as common as in more nervous Moscow that has had more than its share of terrorism. Although not Asian, but definitely a foreigner, I've been checked without any incidents 4 times in 25 years of visiting here. I used to have a girlfriend in St Petersburg who is Asian and she never gave much thought to possible harrassment. She got looks from everyone, certainly, but that was due to her preferrence for micro-mini-skirts even in the winter.
Come, enjoy yourself, millions of visitors from all over the world come every year with no problems. Besides, your tour company would not allow anything to happen to you....its bad for business;>)
Stan

The train ride will be safe, in both towns just be cautious and do not go on undergrown further than the city centre area. Unlike all the previous advisors I am the one who was born in Caucasus so can give the evidence from another side of the problem, although I live in town for 38 yrs, I have been twice harrassed in the underground of St.Pete, none of the passengers came to my rescue.

The old ladies should be aware of the Gypsy crowd that usually gathers at Nevsky Prospekt underground station during high season, the rest is just in any big cities, you are safe until you do not do anything risky yourself.