I should have done this a
long time ago. A lot of guys are worried about this and hear a lot of
bad stories. So, first, let's take a look at crime in Russia. Here are
official crime statistics for May 19 - May 25, 2004. (6 days, not even
a week.) for Moscow. Yes, bigger city, more crime. But this is
indicative of all cities across FSU.
| Crime |
Total |
Solved |
Murder
Assault
Robbery
Rape
Theft
Flat Burglaries
Car Theft |
15
27
327
6
1,059
238
82
|
7
17
132
4
295
18
3
|
|
For
the Record
|
|
Car Accidents
a) killed
b) injured
Suicides
Missing Persons
Bodies Discovered |
120
16
84
30
60
28 |
6 days! Notice the bodies
discovered isn't factored into the missing persons. And the missing
persons isn't factored into another category because the fate of those
people is unknown, but we pretty much know what happened to most of
them. Did you count the amount of people who died (probably died) in 6
days in one city?
Safety
Your
safety. I am sure you have heard stories of foreigners having problems.
(And I know scammers tell guys stories about foreigners not being safe
in FSU.) #1, the girls are scamming you. #2, the real stories always
start like this...
"I
was walking home from the bar at 3:00 am..."
"I
was alone in a cafe when some Russian guys heard me speaking English."
"I
met a girl alone at a bar and she invited me to do something."
Guys
who have had problems were not thinking. Don't go to a bar alone. Don't
be on the street at midnight. I have known a guy who has been in
fights, robbed by the cops and has had other run-ins. He was drunk
every time and it was the middle of the night every time. I know
another guy who was rolled and robbed. He was flashing his wad of cash
in a bar and got drunk and walked out alone. (What do you expect?)
I
have never, not once, ever had any little problem. I have been on the
street at midnight. (Not drunk.) I have simply been smart. Don't think
that everyone is out to get you. Don't stick out like a sore thumb and
nobody will even know your not Russian. Don't speak loud and announce
that you are a foreigner. Don't go out at night alone.
Behave
as if you are walking around Harlem at 11:00 pm.
Inconspicuous.
I
am sure I have forgotten some advice. Advice for travelers is different
than for a guy living here. So, let me know some more tips, I'll post
them.
