Security Situation in Russian Cities

What makes you think that Russia is more unsafe than other countries? Apart from Iraq and Afghanistan, I don't know that it is more dangerous than other places assuming that you don't go to Chechenya or other border zones where travelers are not permitted.

I don't think that its major cities are any more unsafe than those of equivalent size elsewhere in the world. In fact, Moscow might be safer than many. Pickpockets, petty thieves and scam artists can be found all over the world and are no more prevalent in Russia than in the UK, the US or elsewhere. Corruption is an issue in Russia but you aren't going to be conducting business, so this should not be a problem for you.

Ruth

Ruth - I know you will defend Russia to the last, but let's face it, the more run down areas of Moscow ARE DANGEROUS for the traveller. There are violent drunks, there are skinhead gangs etc etc and generally many areas can be very intimidating. I for one wouldn't want to end up in the back streets late at night.

Please tell the real story and stop painting Russia with flowery imagery.

paulnicklin - The more run down areas of Washington, DC and NYC are probably MORE dangerous than Moscow. I am not especially comfortable walking in Anacostia or Bed Sty or Harlem, but then perhaps you are.

Ruth

#2, the question isn't whether or not Moscow is perfectly safe. It's not. The question is whether or not Moscow (or any other Russian city) is more dangerous than any other city of comparable size the world over.

By this criterion Moscow most certainly is not more dangerous. In fact, within it's category--cities with a population of around 10 million--I'd venture it's a good deal safer than most. And the same holds true with other Russian cities of smaller size.

Personally, I never felt unsafe for even a moment during many, many visits to Moscow (during the 3 years that I was living and working in Nizhny Novgorod). The same cannot be said of my experiences of numerous American cities such as Los Angeles, St. Louis, D.C. and New Orleans. (It is worth noting, however, that I am fair-skinned and male. It's well known that darker-skinned visitors to Moscow do need to exercise extra caution these days due to the skinhead problem.) What's more, it's unlikely that most visitors would ever find their way to the "more run-down areas" of the city, most of which lie well outside the Ring, and very far from anyplace a tourist is at all likely to go.

Stay away from the run down areas of any city. Why and what would tourists be doing in these areas.
The only exception being is the railway stations. Especialy ones like Kurskaya in Moscow for example. Be carefull in these areas. As you would back home.
I have lived in Russia for the past 7 years. Vladivostok, Tyumen and Moscow and i have never had a problem. BUT i keep my head down and stay street smart. If your a foreigner it's best not to advertise the fact on the street/metro. Don't get too involved with strangers.
Use common scense and you'll be okay.

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<hr>Don't be surprised if you are black to hear people utter the word 'nigyer' as you walk past. <hr></blockquote>

Alas, I can't defend Russia from the standpoint of racism: the problem is bad and--in contrast to attitudes in most parts of the world-- has gotten distinctly worse these past 10 years.

Anybody who taught in Russia for a year, though, ought to be aware that the Russian word негр (negr)--which, regrettably, sounds very much like the English word nig*er and is routinely mistaken for such by those who don't know the Russian language--is, in fact, an entirely neutral word in Russian, the ordinary and non-offensive way to refer to a male person of African decent, much as the word "negro" used to be in the English-speaking world. It's not even slang: there really is no other common, neutral-register way of referring to a black-skinned man. (In marked contrast, the Russian word for "black," чёрный (chyornyy) usually is intended to be offensive in Russian when applied to a human being.)

Therefore, unless accompanied by threatening gestures, there's no earthly reason to take offense when hearing the word "нерг" in Russia...no more than I take offense when I overhear someone excitedly say "waiguoren!" in my current home.

The fact that they have to say anything at all in relation to your skin colour is quite offensive, regardless on the local usage.

A very high-minded position, #8, and one you're entitled to...but only if you've never, ever, not once in your entire life, commented in passing on the race, nationality or personal appearance of someone you've seen on the street. I find this unlikely.

I also think that people who deliberately seek out offense are liable to find it wherever they look or listen.

What Russia needs now is not apologists for their racist behaviour, but for foreigners there to signify their disgust. I recognise that 'nigyer' has a less offensive connotation than 'chyorny', and is used, yes, primarily to express curiosity (much like waiguoren which I'm sure you're getting pretty sick of now!). I myself, while caucasian had to deal with the label 'inastranyets' muttered wherever I go. This was annoying, as I'm not in the habit of saying 'foreigner' to any non-Brit I see back in the United Kingdom. I know what you're going to say, yes Russia and its people are not used to foreigners. However it's not the old people who grew up in a country of isolation I'm worried about. I have had to deal with racism from people representing all levels of society (my students), most worryingly from well-heeled, educated people. 'Nigyer' to you maybe an innocent manifestation of a people's curiosity, but to me it's the tip of a dark iceberg.