Russian Federation - Country Information

Film Commissions

Vladivostok Film Commission
Tel: 4232 261582, 4232 302074 Fax: 4232 264034, 4232 608429
E-mail: info@vladfc.ru
Website: www.vladfc.ru
Director General: Efim Zvenyatsky

Permits/visas
A letter of invitation from a registered Russian organisation is required. The Film Commission provides film permits and assistance with obtaining entry visas and Customs clearance.

Recent productions
The War, The Kuku, Tycoon, Typhoon (2005, Zininsa Film Co, South Korea), TAU (commercial, 2005, Nibankohboh Productions Corp, Japan).

General Information

Location: Europe
Local Time: Kaliningrad:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +3
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +2
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +3
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan & Naryan-Ma:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +4
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +3
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +4
Izhevsk & Samara:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +5
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +4
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +5
Perm, Nizhnevartovsk & Ekaterinburg:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +6
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +5
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +6
Omsk & Novosibirsk:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +7
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +6
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +7
Norilsk & Kyzyl:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +8
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +7
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +8
Bratsk & Ulan-Ude:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +9
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +8
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +9
Chita & Yakutsk:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +10
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +9
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +10
Khabarovsk, Vladivostock & Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +11
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +10
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +11
Magadan:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +12
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +11
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +12
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky:
From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +13
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +12
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +13
Capital City: Moscow
Population: 145 million
Area: 17,075,200 square km, 6,592,735 square miles.
Language(s): Russian, many local languages
Dialling Code: 7
Emergency: Police: 02. Fire: 01. Ambulance: 03
Directory Enquiries: 9
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence with authorised translation or International Driving Permit required. Self drive car hire is very limited and not recommended for westerners
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Russian Rouble (RUR)
Notes: RUR: 10, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: RUR: 1, 2, 5

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are not widely accepted, exceptions are major hotels and western shops. If taking travellers cheques it is advisable to take them in US dollars, same applies to cash. Dollar notes should preferably be dated after 1993 and be in good condition. The exchange of travellers cheques into US dollars is difficult

Opening Hours
Bank: 0930-1730 Mon-Fri
Office: 0900-1800 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-1900 Mon-Sat (Sun mostly food shops)

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1-2 New Year, Jan 7 Russian Orthodox Christmas, Feb 23 Day of the Defenders of the Motherland, Mar 8 Womens Day, May 1-2 Spring and Labour Day, May 9 Victory in Europe Day, Jun 12 Russia Day, Nov 4 National Unity Day

Business/Social Hints: English is widely spoken and German is also a useful language when visiting. Alcohol is available and smoking is widespread

Tipping: Customary, particularly in international hotels

Health

Reciprocal health: A reciprocal health agreement for medical treatment exists with the United Kingdom. In order to obtain treatment some proof of United Kingdom residence such as a UK passport will be required. Further details are available from www.dh.gov.uk.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera* (Asian and Far Eastern regions), Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, Japanese B encephalitis*, meningitis*, TB*, tetanus, tick-borne encephalitis*, typhoid* (especially in areas east of Ural mountains), rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid 6 months after date of return

Passport Notes:

Visas

Required by all

Air Transit

Required by all except:
1) Persons remaining in the transit zone of Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport with an onward or connecting flight within 24 hours of arrival

Notes: Transit visas are required while travelling through Russia to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine & Uzbekistan. Transit visas are valid for maximum of 3 days

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

Winter is cold with heavy snowfall. Snow thaws Mar/Apr and this period can be quite wet. Summer is very similar to British summer in northern regions and more like the Med in southern regions. Autumn is much shorter than in Britain as winter/snows start in late Oct/Nov. Southern regions are generally warmer

Clothing

During winter a hat is essential with scarf, gloves & thick soled waterproof footwear. Lightweight clothing for summer especially in southern regions

Charts for Moscow

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) -9 -6 0 10 19 21 23 22 16 9 2 -5 Min Temp (C) -16 -14 -8 1 8 11 13 12 7 3 -3 -10 Humidity am (%) 82 82 82 73 58 62 68 74 78 81 87 85 Humidity pm (%) 77 66 64 54 43 47 54 55 59 67 79 83 Rainfall (mm) 39 38 36 37 53 58 88 71 58 45 47 54

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Intourist
7 Wellington Terrace
London, W2 4LW
tel: +44 870 1121232
fax: +44 20 7727 8090
e-mail: info@intourist.co.uk
website: www.intouristuk.com

Embassy
Embassy of Russia
5 Kensington Palace Gardens
London, W8 4QS
tel: +44 20 7229 8027, 0906 550 8960* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7229 3215
e-mail: info@rusemblon.org
website: www.rusemblon.org
hours: 0900-1130 (Mon-Fri)
* calls cost 1 per minute