Petty crime is quite a problem in Russia now particularly in the main cities such as Moscow or St Petersberg. Expect to be pickpocked, I was pushed against a wall in a church in St Petersberg and my camera taken.

In Moscow the local militia pick on tourists a lot and often invent new travel rules, such as you must always carry your hotel invite, of course if you don’t comply they expect to fine you on the spot $600 or so, and threaten prison!

A good tip is to take a couple of credit cards with you keep one in your hotel safe deposit with some cash and the other in your wallet, that way worse case you only need to get back to your hotel. Trains are also bad, so keep the compartment locked at night if you can.