|
||||
|
||||
Russia 2008 Crime & Safety Report: St. PetersburgCrime & Safety
Europe
-
Russia
Overall Crime and Safety
As in many large cities, street crimes such as pick-pocketing, mugging and auto theft are fairly common in St. Petersburg. The incidence of violent hate crimes has risen during the last several years and continues to constitute a serious threat for racial, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities. Organized crime and corruption also remain significant issues for foreign businesses and tourists in the city. The threat of terrorism remains a concern despite a lack of significant terrorist activity in recent years. Police corruption hinders the city’s efforts to increase the general level of safety.
General Crime There have been no significant changes in the level of street crime in St. Petersburg during the past year. In July 2007, unidentified assailants shot and injured a security guard when they robbed the cashier’s office of the St. Petersburg Technological Institute during a money transfer. Cash transport and transfer operations continue to be targeted by criminals despite increased security measures taken by armored car services. Americans, like most foreigners in St. Petersburg, are easily recognized as such have been the victims of robberies and assaults in both tourist areas and residential neighborhoods. Many attacks occurred during daylight hours and in well-populated areas. Bystanders rarely came to the aid of victims. The use of edged weapons is more common than the use of firearms in the commission of such crimes, although firearms remain accessible to criminals in St. Petersburg. A popular tactic of criminals is to file down the edge of a Russian coin to razor-sharpness, which allows the coin to be used as an edged weapon while still providing the criminal with a pretext for its possession if apprehended by police. Criminals are attracted to areas frequented by foreign tourists and business travelers. Nevsky Prospect, Peter and Paul Fortress, the Hermitage, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church on the Spilt Blood, Artists’ Square and the Marinsky Theater are all targeted by pickpockets and other petty criminals. Petty criminals also target the public transport system. The Gostiny Dvor subway station, in particular, was the site of a spate of pick-pocketings and muggings. It is believed that the Gostiny Dvor pick-pocketing ring is backed by the Russian police in an arrangement known as a “roof” (krisha) protection racket. Nevertheless, the subway, trolley and bus systems remain the safest and best regulated of St. Petersburg’s public transport options. Private taxis, or “gypsy cabs,” and minibuses (marshrutki) are considered to be more dangerous both in terms of the likelihood of crime and traffic safety. Some areas of St. Petersburg, while historically important and popular with some tourists, remain even more dangerous than mainstream tourist attractions. Sennaya Square and Apraksin Dvor are two such locations. Both areas are characterized by poor lighting, transient populations, and low-end businesses. “Gypsy crime” or “Roma crime” is a specific kind of street crime common to St. Petersburg. It involves large groups of Roma (an ethnic minority pejoratively referred to as “gypsies”) who aggressively swarm and distract their intended victims with various artifices in order to grab purses, wallets and other valuables. One notable technique, the “baby drop,” involves pushing an infant into a victim’s arms and then fleecing the victim’s pockets as the victim holds on to the infant. While these crimes are not necessarily violent, resistance by victims can result in the use of violent force by assailants. Roma crime groups usually operate with “muscle” hidden around corners or in nearby crowds. Drink drugging is still a source of concern in St. Petersburg. These crimes usually involve the surreptitious placement of an incapacitating drug in a victim’s drink. The victim is distracted by a co-conspirator, usually an attractive woman, while the drugs are surreptitiously introduced into the victim’s drink. The co-conspirator then suggests that the victim accompany her (or him) to a car or hotel room, where the victim succumbs to the drugs and is robbed. Such drugging usually occur at bars and nightclubs frequented by tourists. While most druggings occur in low-end establishments, some incidents have been recorded in the city’s best bars and nightclubs. It is advisable to order only bottled drinks, ensure the drinks are opened in one’s own presence, and maintain control of the drinks at all times in order to minimize the risk of being drugged. In the event of a drugging, the victim should seek immediate medical attention.
The most alarming criminal trend in the St. Petersburg area in 2007 was a rise in the instance of pedophilia and sexual molestation of children. While these crimes were limited to Russian residents of St. Petersburg and may not have a direct impact on foreign travel and business, Russian media gave considerable coverage to the growing threat of crimes against children. Terrorism In August 2007, a high-speed train returning to St. Petersburg from Moscow derailed near Novgorod. Sixty passengers were injured and one passenger was killed. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) declared the derailment a terrorist act and took control of the investigation. To date, no one has been prosecuted for the derailment, although several arrests have been made. Doubts linger as to whether the derailment was actually a terrorist attack, or merely the result of poor track maintenance. FSB also investigated a reported threat to assassinate St. Petersburg governor Valentina Matvienko. There have been no reports on the veracity of the threat and no subsequent media reports on the investigation’s progress. Aside from the August train derailment and the alleged plot to assassinate governor Matvienko, there have been no major terrorist incidents, or suspected terrorist incidents, in recent years. However, St. Petersburg is home to many ethnic and religious minorities that may sympathize with terrorist groups in Russia’s Caucasian region. Tensions surrounding the loyalties and sympathies of St. Petersburg’s 40,000 Muslims combined with Russian xenophobia to create an atmosphere of racial tension and suspicion. In reality, the few instances of low-level “terrorist” activity in St. Petersburg, such as pipe-bombings, have been revealed to be part of hate crimes or organized crime activity. In October of 2007, a pipe bomb was thrown onto a stage during a concert at a local nightclub. No one was injured, and several local skinheads were revealed to be behind the attack. Political Violence Police and government security agencies maintain tight control over dissident political groups and protests. Dissident political groups must obtain city permits in order to march or assemble. Police presence at such protests is overwhelming and includes hundreds of riot police, riot-control vehicles, and even helicopters. The majority of protests are peaceful; however, a dissident march along Nevsky Prospekt in early 2007 was violently dispersed by riot police.
The U.S. Consulate was the target of several peaceful political protests during 2006 but has not been the target of political protests in 2007 or thus far in 2008. Communist groups, groups supporting Palestine, and even Russian students seeking better dormitory conditions have all protested in front of the U.S. Consulate in the past few years. Russian Organized Crime In May 2007, two children of a prominent real estate mogul were kidnapped and ransomed for 10 million Euros. The children were eventually released without payment due to the intervention of highly-placed political figures. It is suspected that the kidnapping was a result of an organized crime dispute involving real estate.
Hostile economic takeovers of local and foreign-owned businesses continue to constitute a major security issue. Organized crime groups continue to run protection rackets with impunity. In fact, it is believed that Russian law enforcement agencies run their own protection rackets. The 2007 arrest of Vladimir Earsukov, aka Vladimir Kumarin, of the Tambov crime family, was handled by top-level FSB officials due to concerns about local police collusion with organized crime. The Tambov, Kazan, and Malyshev crime families are the three major criminal organizations in St. Petersburg. Organized criminal activity in St. Petersburg extends into business, banking, public services, natural resources, and even art and culture. Virtually all businesses in St. Petersburg have a krisha (protection scheme, lit. “roof “) provided by organized crime.
Each year, many foreign businesses experience significant problems with organized crime including extortion, blackmail, and protection rackets. Joint business ventures, in particular, can be targeted by Russian organized crime. However, exact statistics on this issue are difficult to obtain. It is advisable to exercise caution and diligence in establishing business activities in St. Petersburg. Proactive security planning and thorough screening of prospective partners and employees are essential practices for foreign businesses in Russia. Police Police corruption in Russia remains a major problem. While police coverage of the city is fairly comprehensive, with dozens of substations, and radio cars trolling almost every street; woefully poor pay, passivity and corruption greatly undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement in St. Petersburg. Motorists routinely bribe their way out of traffic violations and victims of crime are likely to find themselves confronted by bureaucratic and unmotivated detectives. Russian police theoretically maintain a special police unit for crimes affecting foreigners, although this unit’s operational capability is questionable. Very few police officers speak English. Russian police conduct frequent documents checks, especially of minorities and foreigners. Foreigners are required to carry their passports with valid visas and registration stamps at all times. Document problems are a frequent source of police harassment for foreigners and leave foreigners open to the solicitation of bribes by police officers. Crimes committed under color of authority, that is, crimes committed by police officers or those dressed as police officers, also continue to be a major problem in St. Petersburg. While foreigners should always comply with police document checks, it is advisable to note the names, badge numbers, and vehicle numbers of any police present. There have been several instances where police or individuals dressed as police, used document checks as a pretext for robbery. If You Are a Victim Of Crime The U.S. Consulate General continues to advise that Americans report crimes immediately to the Russian police and the American Citizen Services section of the Consulate. Russian police usually do render basic assistance. It is recommended to file an official police report, especially when an American passport has been stolen. Crimes can be reported to the nearest police precinct or by calling the “Militia Bureau for Crimes Committed By and Against Foreigners.” In instances of police inaction, detention or harassment, Americans should immediately contact the Consulate for assistance. St. Petersburg emergency numbers operate 24 hours day: Fire: 01 Police: 02 Ambulance: 03 Milita (Police) Unit for Foreigners: 278-3014 Medical Issues Related to Crime and Safety The Russian medical system is slowly recovering from a state of near collapse. There are no government-run hospitals in St. Petersburg that provide full Western medical care, although several private clinics offer care comparable to Western standards. These clinics also have English-speaking doctors and accept some U.S. insurance policies.
American Medical Clinic: 78 Moika nab., tel: 740-2090 http://www.amclinic.com or www.amclinic.com. MEDEM : 6 Marata ui., tel: 336-3333, www.iscpb.com These clinics can also arrange for medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) to Western Europe, however, this is very expensive. The closest MEDEVC point is Helsinki, Finland. The U.S. Consulate advises travelers who have chronic illnesses or who are infirm to consider the standard of medical care and the costs of medical evacuation before traveling to St. Petersburg. The Consulate further recommends that all travelers to Russia obtain temporary traveler’s medical insurance with coverage for medical evacuation. Tips for Avoiding Crime
Transportation Tips
Tips For the American Business Community
For Further Information
American Citizen Services
U.S. Consulate General Furshstatskaya ul. 15 191028 St. Petersburg Tel: (812) 331-2600 www.stpetersburg-usconsulate.ru E-mail: acs_stpete@state.gov U.S. Foreign Commercial Service 25 Nevsky Prospect, 3rd Floor Tel: (812) 326-2560 E-mail: stpetersburg.office.box@mail.doc.gov American Chamber of Commerce |
||||
|
||||
|
This is a U.S. Government inter-agency Web site managed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector purposes only. Publishing or otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) provides links to non-government websites as a public service only. The U.S. government, including OSAC, neither endorses nor guarantees in any way the external organizations, services, advice, or products included in these website links. For more information, please read our full disclaimer. Overseas Security Advisory Council • Bureau of Diplomatic Security U.S. Department of State • Washington, D.C. 20522-2008 Telephone: 571-345-2223 • Facsimile: 571-345-2238 Contact OSAC Webmaster |
||||
|
||||
