Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories
From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Russia
Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die
Distribution: wstd
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1993 16:13:32 GMT
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Russia
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Russia - Consular Information Sheet
October 7, 1992

Embassy and Consulate Locations:  The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is 
located at Novinskiy Bulvar 19/23; telephone (7-095) 252-2450.  
After hours, a duty officer may be reached by calling (7-095) 
252-1898 or (7-095) 255-5123.  The American Consulate General in St. 
Petersburg is located at Ulitsa Petra Lavrova 15; telephone (7-812) 
274-8235.  The American Consulate General in Vladivostok is located 
at 12 Mordotseva Street: telephone (7-4232) 258-458 or 266-734.

Country Description:  Russia is a nation undergoing profound 
political and economic change.  It is still in the process of 
stabilizing its relations with neighboring countries.  Street 
demonstrations and other disturbances related to outstanding 
disputes may occur without warning.  Tourist facilities are not 
highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for 
granted in western countries are not yet available.  Internal 
travel, especially by air, may be disrupted by fuel shortages and 
other problems.

Entry Information:  All travelers to Russia must have a visa.  
Without a visa, travelers cannot register at hotels and will be 
required to leave the country immediately via the route by which 
they entered.  U.S. citizens may contact the Consular Section of the 
Russian Embassy at 1825 Phelps Place NW, Washington, DC  20008, tel. 
(202) 939-8918, or the Russian Consulate in San Francisco for 
further information on visa requirements.

Areas of Instability:  A state of emergency and a curfew are in 
effect in the Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Republic of Russia.  The 
political situation in Chechen-Ingush and the neighboring North 
Ossetia Autonomous Republic remains unsettled.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care in Russia is limited.  There is a 
severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable 
needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics.  Elderly travelers and those 
with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate 
medical facilities.  Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate 
cash payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance is not 
always valid outside the United States.  Travelers have found that 
in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas 
coverage has proved to be useful.  Additional medical information 
for the region can be found in the Department of State's brochure, 
"Tips for Travelers to Russia," which is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, DC 20402.  Further information on health matters can be 
obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international 
travelers hotline on (404) 332-4559.

Crime Information: Street crime has increased, especially at night. 
 Pickpocketings occur, especially for conspicuously dressed 
westerners.  A sharp increase in crime aboard international trains 
to and from Mongolia has been recently reported, with several 
incidents of armed robbery on the trains between Ulaanbaatar, 
Mongolia, and Moscow.  The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe 
Trip Abroad" is also available from the Superintendent of Documents, 
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402.  It provides 
useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal 
security while traveling abroad.

Currency Regulations:  Traveler's checks and credit cards are not 
widely accepted in Russia.  The problem is particularly acute in St. 
Petersburg, where most hotels and restaurants do not accept credit 
cards or traveler's checks. It has become increasingly difficult to 
exchange traveler's checks for U.S. dollars or Russian rubles even 
at banks or at the American Express office.  Unless travelers are 
part of a tour that includes all meals and hotels prepaid, they will 
experience extreme difficulty in obtaining local currency.

Drug Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in 
illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail 
sentences and fines.

Registration: Americans who register at the Consular Section of the 
U.S. Embassy or Consulate may obtain updated information on travel 
and security within the country. 

No. 92-043