I plan to go to Russia. What should I do to ensure safety?

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Chencha

Hooowaaah! I spent last year working in Siberia!

You're right to have some concerns for your safety in Russia. I'm sad to say that they're not always very friendly to coloured people.
Stick to main streets at all times, but especially after dark. Try not to walk around alone, but that's not always possible. Stay alert for any signs of people following you in a threatening way..you'll recognise it when it happens. It happened to me only once, & that was in Moscow on my 2nd day there. I was petrified!

At the very least, expect to be stared at in the street. I'm a white woman, but they still recognised me as foreign. I was stared at, and sometimes followed..mostly it was out of curiosity.

Where are you planning to travel in Russia? Some places are more dangerous than others, obviously.

Travel in Russia is an exercise in bureaucracy. You'll need a letter of invitation to get into the country, & a letter of invitation for each city you travel to.

I'll stop here..if you want more information, let me know.

chipchinka

I am an African American man planning the same thing. I hear mixed stories. Some advise me to stay the heck out of Russia...Russians tend to tell me it's not so bad as long as I have a cadre of escorts and stick to the main streets. I AM going, but I'm not going to be stupid about it.

The advice that I have been given that I am passing on is FIND FRIENDS in Moscow BEFORE you get there. Use them as escorts at all times, the more the better, and be prepared to be stared at and followed. Though there are afro-Russians, people of color (at least by western standards) are still a rarity and so you should be ready to put up with virtually anything from staring to outright aggression. The other thing I have learned from both Americans of Color AND Russians who have experience with Moscow: Be alert as you would in any city with a population of 12 million and don't fall into the habit of advertizing that you might have something worth taking. If you're going for work, make arrangements with your employer(s) to ensure your safety if you are forced to travel at night.

My personal advice. Be insanely careful. Do what you have to do, but be aware of where you are going and do everything in your power to at least learn passable Russian as sometimes the ability to speak the language and read it will drastically lessen the chances of something inconvenient turning into someththing deadly.

There are the stories of black men especially being killed/attacked by skinheads etc and in ONE instance that I am particularly aware of the black man in question was NOT all angellic and innocent; this isn't to say that he was engaged in criminal activity, nor is it to lessen the impact of what happened, but one of the Russian friends (also a gypsy and highly prone to attacks and harrassment from police) I have happened to be on the scene during that altercation and according to his account, what would have been nothing more than one of the small spat of namecalling and rude hand gestures escalated into something a bit more fatal simply because the black American overreacted, thus presenting himself as a threat to those who kicked the living daylights out of him...literally. Of course, this is ONE isolated event and not indicative of the events that DO take place all over Moscow on one level or another, but it does illustrate that there is a certain measure of exaggeration (both negative and positive) that takes place in regard to Moscow. But for all of its beauty and grandeur, Moscow is ALSO a city of exaggeration...just look at Saint Basil's Cathedral for proof.

donktheclown

Wow, you are brave. Best way to protect yourself, STAY HOME.

mempto

Get a bulletproof vest.

rbeletskiy

Hey dont listen to all of those people i just got back from there althought i came from ukraine bur same thing.If youre going to Moscow dont worry its really safe and buetiful not like any us city.You will see bunch of history there.Although its butiful but dangerous sometimes keep that in mind.Try to stay at your friends place or something.Dont agree on any propositions from strangers because you will probably be robed.You should also see other black peope so dont worry that they will do something to you justy because youre black.There arent that many of them there so .About skinheads its an old story i heard that most of them got killed because they attacked bickers.And the bikers killed most of them.Other skinheads just fell apart most of gangs.I just talked with this dude that came from there he sayd he liked there and it was safe.Also go visit ST.Peterburg you ganna love it ther.As i sayd you ganna have bunch of fun but still be aware.Good luck.

shaggy

i just arrived in russia 4 days ago and let me tell you they are mean to the americans imagration treated us like **** we even had diplomatic passports no help oh yeah they even stole our luggage just be carefull dont travell alone or venture out at night the muggings here are bad they beat you with stones and take anything of value if i was you i would stay the hell home unless i came here im telling you this as a american

asdf123

I think you shoudl bring yourself an M4A1 Carbine, A rocket launcher, a radio, and some grednades.

THE LAST GREAT ACT OF DEFIANCE !

first of all every european is raci*t and it is already hel* over there the best i can say is get a gu* or dont go at all

brandon

I'm not black, so this might be irrelevant but I didn't have any problems in Russia. If you stay to the safe neighborhoods (don't go into back streets) and stick to hotel and tourist bars you'll be fine

likeitis

hire a out of work KGB agent to watch your back - cheap

ladysodivine

The way things are right now, the only way to be safe is to stay at home.

Gluon

Don't stay in a hostel.

Instant_Karma_Oats

Stay out of the Russia part of Russia.

I'd hate to see a fellow Black Man get killed.

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