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UPDATE 21 July 2014 - Situation in the Ukraine
The situation in the Ukraine is constantly being monitored.There is no reason for you to fear travel to Russia, especially Saint-Petersburg.As a foreign visitor to Russia, there is no increased risk to your safety, as a result of what is happening in the Ukraine. We will monitor events and keep this page updated with the latest news and safety briefings.The location of where the seminars will be held, is also located in one of the safest areas in Saint-Petersburg, so you have nothing to worry about - even if you are travelling alone.
We do know that there are major tensions in Eastern Ukraine, and they are constantly in our prayers for a peaceful solution. Help us send unconditional love to them all!
Personal Safety.
Any major city in Europe and across the world is faced with petty crime. Saint-Petersburg is no different.
You need to be aware and vigilant, and look after the things that matter the most to you.
If you have valuable jewellery then be sensible about what you take with, where you wear it and where you leave it.
We have travelled extensively and have always made sure we looked after our items. So we ask you to do the same.
Travelling around.
There is no guarantee that you will not come across someone who might want to take something from you.
Don't flash your cash! - if you openly display how much money you have, in Rubles or foreign currency, someone is bound to notice.
Don't flash your bling! - every lady likes to show off her pearls and gold, diamonds and other items that shine. Be sensible when you are out in public.
Grab your bag! - it takes seconds to lose a bag to an expert. So make sure you take special notice of your bag when in public places, restaurants etc. This doesn't mean that there is a major problem in the city. It does happen anywhere, in any country, at any time.
Group travel is good! - if you are alone, then why not make some friends and travel in groups of 3 or 4 or more? That's an excellent way to have more than one set of eyes! Just make sure you don't forget to turn left or right when in deep conversation!(And no - this does not mean it is unsafe to travel on your own - it is nicer to have friends to travel with !!)
Local Police.
There used to be many reports of corruption. It seems to have been eradicated but don't take a chance. If a police man or woman stops you, ask them politely for Identification. They are not allowed to take your passport away from you. So insist on getting it back if they ask for it.
** You MUST (it's law) carry your passport with you at all times. If a police officer stops you and you don't have your passport, you could be in for a bit of a delay and a trip to the local police station.
There is one or more police officers at every Metro Station. They also walk the main tourist areas of the city. If you have a bag on your shoulder and you are travelling alone, they could possibly stop you to have a look inside your bag. Don't worry, it is standard protocol for Police in Russia to do this.
Other information sources.
We encourage you to make use of other sources of information. For countries like the USA and the UK, there are dedicated government websites that offer travel and consular advice.
Have a look at other websites like TripAdvisor and local travel agents. They often have valuable information too.
We will provide a briefing document for you before you travel to Russia. This will be made available at the beginning of September. This document will only give you additional information for you to consider, so we really encourage you to check the other sources of information too.