Online Relocation Guide

Transcription

Association
of European Businesses
STEP BY STEP:
Living
in Russia
2011
Contents
Contents
Foreword by Konstantin O. Romodanovsky,
Director, Federal Migration Service (FMS) Russia
Foreword by H.E. F. Valenzuela,
Ambassador, EU Delegation to Russia
Foreword by Dr. Frank Schauff, AEB CEO
Living in Russia – an overview
Association
of European Businesses
2
3
4
Introduction to Russia
Expatriate life in Russia
Russian Language and Culture
6
6
8
Current Immigration Procedures in Russia
How to work in Russia legally and the latest changes
in migration legislation
Standard procedure
Obtaining a work permit for a highly skilled specialist
What are the main requirements of the Russian Federal
Migration Service (FMS) for the highly skilled specialist’s work permit?
10
10
12
12
Moving to Russia
Customs formalities
The features of moving to Russia
Prohibited goods
Artwork
Cars
Pets
AEB CEO
Dr. Frank Schauff
16
18
18
18
19
19
Living in Russia: Moscow
Business Development Director
Irina Aksenova
The City: step by step
Living in Moscow: other useful facts
Time out
DOs and DON’Ts
Publications Manager
Nina Anigbogu
Serviced accommodation in Moscow
Living in Russia: St. Petersburg
22
31
35
35
Districts of St. Petersburg
Advertising & Sales
Olga Pavlyuk
Ul. Krasnoproletarskaya 16, bld. 3
127473 Moscow, Russian Federation
Tel.: +7 (495) 234 27 64
Fax: +7 (495) 234 28 07
Website: www.aebrus.ru
The AEB Step by Step: Living in Russia
is registered with Roscomnadzor,
ПИ № ТУ 50-499. Circulation: 6, 000 copies.
All copyrighted images are taken from
www.dreamstime.com and
www.shutterstock.com
The opinions and comments expressed
here are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Association
of European Businesses.
General Dynamics of the Rental Market
54
Living in Russia: Sakhalin
Geography
Historical remark
Natural resources
Transport
Sakhalin companies
Places to visit
58
59
59
60
60
62
Living in Russia: Sochi
Sochi – life for an expatriate
Year-round, sun-and-snow resort
Working in Sochi
Art and Modern Lifestyle
Family accommodation
Recreation
Useful information
Living in Sochi: other useful facts
Short stories
Step by step : Living in Russia
38
A Review of the St. Petersburg rental market in 2010
64
64
65
65
65
65
65
66
9, 14, 20, 26, 42, 48, 63, 71
1
Foreword by H.E. F. Valenzuela, Ambassador, EU Delegation to Russia
It is only next to the USA that the Russian Federation is the
world’s second in the number of foreign citizens arriving to the
country (migrants). Russia remains most attractive for migrants
amidst the world financial and economic crisis. The total number of
foreign citizens entering the country every year is about 13 to 14
million people; most of them come mainly from the CIS countries.
In the 21st century, migratory processes significantly influence
the economic, political and cultural institutes.
Under today’s conditions, a well-balanced and thought-out
migratory policy is important to the Russian Federation in the light of
all-round modernisation of the economy and development of the scientific potential, which needs
inflow of qualified foreign labour, investments and innovative technologies.
Regular consultations with our partners from the European Union and representatives of
domestic business resulted in the introduction of a preferential treatment of labour activity in the
Russian Federation for highly skilled foreign specialists.
Today, we are establishing an efficient and mutually beneficial system of attraction and
exchange of work force, with all the states concerned, consistently liberalising our migratory
legislation. In this connection, I cannot but emphasize the fruitful cooperation between the Federal Migratory Service and the Association of European Businesses, promoting advancement of
the Russian Federation along the way of formation and strengthening of international business
contacts.
I am sure that the newest legislative initiatives of Russia in the migratory sphere will largely
contribute to growth of efficiency and investment appeal of the Russian economy.
Creation of comfortable conditions of staying and labour activity for both foreign citizens in
the Russian Federation and Russian citizens abroad, is nowadays, a priority of the governmental
migratory policy and a weighty matter of state!
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to wish you all a fruitful and constructive work and
say, ‘welcome to the Russian Federation!’
Konstantin O. Romodanovsky
Director, Federal Migration Service (FMS) Russia
2
Foreword by Dr. Frank Schauff, AEB CEO
For anyone new in Russia, there are many questions – both
concerning practical aspects of daily life as well as concerning doing
business here. The AEB is certainly a very good partner who can help
to address your questions and to help you with settling in.
The EU and the Russian economy are highly interconnected: The
EU is Russia's main trade partner, accounting for well over half of
its overall trade turnover. It is also the most important investor in
Russia: up to 75% of FDI stocks in Russia come from the EU Member
States. Russia is the EU's third trading partner with almost 10% share
of our trade.
Concerning our ongoing negotiations with Russia, the EU is currently in the process of negotiating a new EU-Russia Partnership Agreement that should deepen and strengthen our already
wide-ranging cooperation. At the same time, Russia’s WTO accession remains a key priority. On
this front, bilateral issues were cleared at the EU-Russia Summit of 7 December 2010. This is an
important milestone in the accession process and the EU now very much hopes that 2011 will see
Russia becoming a WTO member. Such long-term commitment to a rules-based multilateral trade
system would be a clear indication of Russia’s determination to move towards a diversified, open
and prosperous economy.
For many years, the cooperation between the European Union Delegation and the AEB has
been very close and frequent contacts take place on a wide variety of issues. Together with the
European Commission and the EU Member States' Embassies in Russia, the AEB actively participates in the EU Market Access Partnership – we are cooperating very closely in order to reduce
barriers for doing business in Russia. In particular, we have been focussing together on issues of
great importance for business in Russia such as visas and work permits, customs issues, increased
import duties, technical barriers to trade, intellectual property rights and energy-related questions.
Doing business in Russia is certainly a challenge full of opportunities. Together with the AEB,
the European Union Delegation would like to welcome you to Russia and wish you all the best.
H.E. Fernando Valenzuela Marzo
Ambassador, European Union Delegation to Russia
3
Introduction
Last year the Step by Step guide was a smashing success. This is
an indication of the fact that people and companies are in fact interested in relocating and expanding their business to Russia.
With a land mass of 17, 075, 400 square kilometres and a population of 141,927,297 as of January 1st, 2010, the Russian Federation
comprises 83 federal subjects and the opportunities here are limitless.
The whole world is moving towards globalisation and Russia is
there right alongside. Russia has a market economy, with enormous
natural resources, particularly, oil and natural gas. It has the 12th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the 7th largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Nowadays, higher domestic consumption and greater political stability
have bolstered economic growth in Russia. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more
than 80% of Russian exports abroad. The total area of cultivated land in Russia was estimated as
1,237,294 square kilometres in 2005, and is the fourth largest in the world. From 1999 to 2009,
Russia's agriculture demonstrated steady growth, transforming the country from a grain importer
to the third largest grain exporter after the EU and USA. In recent years, Russia has frequently been
described in the media as an "energy superpower". The country has the world's largest natural gas
reserves, the 8th largest oil reserves and the second largest coal reserves.
This guide is meant to serve as an insight into Russia – to acquaint those interested in relocating
for business reasons, with the culture, customs and ways of getting around in some of the major
cities. In the second issue of the Step by Step guide, we present you with an overview of not only
Moscow, but three other regions – Sahalin, St. Petersburg and Sochi, in addition to the basic facts
about immigration and relocation. The guide has been put together by representatives of AEB
member companies and leading experts in their various fields.
As you immerse yourself in the pages that follow, we hope that the information acquired will
go a long way in answering some of the pressing questions you may have and convince you that
with its rich culture and warm hearted people, Russia really is a great place to relocate to.
On a final note I would like to welcome you to Russia and wish you all a great stay!
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Frank Schauff
Chief Executive Officer
The Association of European Businesses
4
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St. Basil's Cathedral – Moscow
Introduction to Russia
Russia is a land of extremes. Even after the
disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia remains by far the world’s largest country,
comprising of over 17 million square kilometers
(Canada, by comparison, is just under 10 million sq Km, the USA, excluding Alaska, 8 million sq Km) covering 11 time zones and with a
population of around 142 million.
Moscow, the capital, is Europe’s largest city,
with a population of 10,524,400 (as of 1st June
2009) and is the seat of government, and by
far, the most significant economic centre, as
well as being home to the greatest number of
billionaires in the world.
For foreigners, Moscow can be an expensive place to live. In 2008, the city was voted
the most expensive city for expatriates for the
third year in a row; however, by 2009 it ranked
third behind Tokyo and Osaka.
6
Russia has much to offer the relocating
expatriate executive, not only in terms of significant business opportunities, but in terms of
the richness of its culture, as well as a strong
heritage in every aspect of the arts and sciences, of which Russians are justifiably proud.
On the other hand, Russia is still characterised
by a seemingly all-encompassing bureaucracy.
An awareness of both immigration formalities and the ways in which bureaucracy can
affect business is essential in order to ensure a
trouble free and enjoyable stay.
Expatriate life in Russia
Life in Russia is full of challenges! However, a
little preparation both before your relocation
and after arrival can be of immense benefit
throughout the rest of your stay. Expatriates
who make at least some effort to acclimatise
to their new environment, whether by taking
Russian language lessons, enjoying the wealth
of culture the Russian capital has to offer, read-
ing up on the country’s rich history, developing
an interest in its architecture or travelling to
the Russian hinterland, beyond Moscow will
invariably lead a much fuller life while in Russia and take away with them any number of
unique memories and experiences.
Climate
Many foreigners associate Russia with long,
cold winters and little else. Those who arrive in
Russia in the summer months ( June to August)
are often pleasantly (and sometimes unpleasantly!) surprised by how hot the Russian summer can be. Spring and autumn tend to be brief
periods of change between very low and very
high temperatures.
Winters can indeed be cold and are always
accompanied by snow. Rarely does the temperature in winter fall below -25 degrees centigrade (in Moscow at least) and the average
January temperature is around -8 degrees.
People's friendship fountain – Moscow
Summers are short and hot. The average
July temperature for Moscow is 18 degrees;
although, heat waves with temperatures in the
lower 30s are not uncommon from mid-May to
mid-August.
master completely. However, your time in Russia will be much more rewarding if you make
some effort to learn the language, and at least,
the basics about Russia’s cultural heritage. A
working knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet
is most useful for reading place names and
street signs and is easier to learn than one may
imagine at first glance. Your company should
be able to arrange Russian language lessons
for you, as well as a guide to Russian cultural
peculiarities.
Personal Safety
Monument to Minin and Pozharsky – Moscow
Clothing
For winter, it is best to have ‘removable layers’
of clothing as it may well be cold out on the
street, but the interior of Russian buildings –
both homes and offices – may be very warm
verging on uncomfortably hot. A good, warm
hat (made of fur or insulated man-made materials) is an essential piece of kit, as are scarves,
gloves and good warm winter boots.
Summer wear needs to take into account
both very warm, humid temperatures, as well
as frequent showers, which occur when the
weather is thundery.
Russian Language and Culture
Russian is not an easy language to learn and
will require considerable time and effort to
8
Moscow is no more dangerous or safe than
any other large urban area of comparable
size. Indeed many long-term expatriates often
comment positively on how safe Moscow
feels. This is not to say that crime is not a
problem and every expatriate should try not
to draw unnecessary attention to themselves
and be aware of the possibility of petty crime,
especially, in crowded areas and on public
transport. Make a list of emergency telephone
numbers – your office, your embassy, Russianspeaking friends etc. and always keep these
with you. You should also register yourself
and your family members with your country’s
embassy.
David Gilmartin
David came to Russia as an
expatriate in 1996. Originally
working in Consumer Goods,
David traveled extensively
throughout Russia, and was based in the
regions for a number of years. David has
worked in Relocations and Real Estate for the
last 5 years. As owner and General Manager
of Troika Relocations, David has gained an
excellent insight into the Relocation Industry
in Russia, and its current strengths and weaknesses. As an expat himself, David is ideally
placed to advise expatriate executives and
their families relocating to Moscow.
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia: “Have a drink in the morning and you
are free for the rest of the day“ (s utra wiypil, ves den
svoboden)
This Russian saying used to apply to the daily business practice of foreigners doing business in Russia
in the nineties. A regular business meeting at around eleven in the morning could take an unexpected
turn when your host would close the door behind you after you entered the room. With the door closing something else would surely be opened, and that would be the drawer of your host’s desk, out
of which, a bottle of Vodka, and if you were lucky, some dark bread would be produced. Two hours
later, at around lunchtime, you would be trying to find your way back to the office dressed in a smart
suit and tie, but hardly being able to put two straight steps in front of each other. Now, in the twenty
first century, the risk of running into a bottle of Vodka during a time of the day when your mind can
only say “Cappuccino” is not so big anymore. Luckily, Russia’s drinking culture has evolved in the last
20 years. Where in the nineties the saying “Have a drink in the morning and you are free for the rest
of the day“ (s utra wiypil, ves den svoboden) applied, nowadays, it is “sdelal delo, gulyay smelo”
(having done your business, you are free to party). Still, Vodka is an important part of the Russian
culture, and therefore, of Russian business culture. The farther you are from Moscow, the sooner this
will become clear to you. Drinking Vodka is unavoidable in Russia and the best policy is: “if you can’t
beat them, join them”. And join them you will, sooner or later because saying no to a Russian who
offers you a drink is like trying to avoid death or taxes. You may delay it a little, but in the end, it will
catch up with you. And if you drink, it is important to understand that it is not only what you drink
that is important, but also how you drink. Shots of Vodka are not drunk by little sips. They go down
the hatch in one go. You are allowed though, to loudly express any kind of emotion after you have
downed a shot of Vodka. Delight or suffering may be expressed by groans, gurgles and other noises,
just as long as you do it with conviction. You may eat a pickled cucumber to soften the feeling of a
vodka-burned throat; alternatively, if you want to show your worth, you simply deeply sniff a crust
of brown bread. This may seem tough in the beginning, but you will notice that after three shots of
Vodka it is actually not that bad. The first shot is just as tough for the Russian as it is for you, but the
difference is that the Russian’s genetic memory harbours the knowledge that it gets better after two
or three shots. Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to drink bottle after bottle. Everything
from five shots (or 250 grams) and more will do the trick. If after five shots you stop drinking, that
will be respected. But you are free to continue of course. The Vodka drinking is nothing less than a
ceremony, with its own specific etiquette. Every glass you drink will be preceded by a toast and you
will be expected to say a few of them. A good toast is highly appreciated and the third toast (standing
up) is always proposed to the ladies present. A glass can only be poured when the glass is standing
on the table (as opposed to holding it up in the air); an opened Vodka bottle is not closed again and
empty bottles are taken off the table. One rather dangerous moment is when your Russian host starts
drinking ‘na pososhok’ (one for the road). Although you might think that he is delicately trying to get
rid of you, the ‘pososhok’ is actually more often than not, the start of a long line of drinks for the road.
But these are just few of the customs that rule the drinking table. Drinking Vodka is an important part
of doing business, although, no business is usually done during the drinking. Something much more
important takes place while you progress form one glass to the other. A personal relationship and
trust are being established; two crucial ingredients for successful business in Russia.
The Kremlin – Moscow
Current Immigration Procedures
in Russia
How to work in Russia legally and
the latest changes in migration
legislation
All foreign nationals, who are going to work in
the Russian Federation (RF) are obliged meant
to obtain work permits. The work permit can
be obtained on behalf of a legal entity or an
individual entrepreneur. This can be a Russian
legal entity, a representative or branch office
of a foreign legal entity. Thus, if you are going
to work in Russia, you will have to do one of
the following, find an employer, establish your
own company or a representative office of a
foreign company on Russian Federation territory. The opportunity to work freelance in the
RF is open only to CIS-citizens.
At the moment, there is a standard procedure for obtaining a work permit and a procedure for highly skilled specialists.
10
Standard procedure
The main problem faced by employers when
recruiting foreign nationals using the standard
procedure, is in obtaining a quota. The application for the quota should be submitted to the
Department of Employment by May 1st of the
current year for the quota of the next year.
Applying for the quota does not guarantee that
you will obtain it. Thus, if the employer wishes
to obtain a work permit for a foreign national
after May 1 of the current year he will only
be able to do so 18 months later and only on
condition of the confirmation of the quota for
the company for any desired position.
However, the Ministry of Health and Social
Development of the RF publishes a list of positions that are exempt from the quota. As a
rule, this list contains management positions
such as general director, company director
The AEB “One Window Approach”
application procedure
1. A company intending to legalise an expatriate employee shall notify the AEB by forwarding the person’s details – name, profile,
address, bank details, type of document and
employee’s name on the company’s letterhead, in English and Russian.
2. The company shall pay to the AEB an administrative charge of 1,150 rubles for each
expatriate employee of the company and
460 rubles for each family member of this
expatriate employee, in accordance with an
invoice issued by the AEB.
3. The company shall provide the AEB visa coordinator with a complete set of documents.
The list of documents and the format in which
they should be completed can be found in the
applicable regulatory legal acts that governing the order for applying to the FMS. The
package of documents and all subsequent
documents, if any, shall be delivered to the
AEB visa coordinator by an employee duly
authorised by the proper power of attorney,
issued by the company. The AEB visa coordinator shall officially accept these documents.
4. In addition to the package of documents,
the company shall provide the AEB visa
coordinator with a duly executed power of
attorney, authorising him/her to represent
the company at the FMS.
5. Once the package of documents has been
approved, the AEB visa coordinator shall
submit the package of documents to the FMS
and notify the company thereof.
6. If the FMS requests for any additional information, the AEB visa coordinator will notify
the company. The company then has to
provide the AEB visa coordinator with this
information in time.
7. Once the package of documents has been
processed at the FMS, the AEB visa coordinator shall notify the company, receive the
respective documents from the FMS and
hand them over to the company’s authorised
officer, at the AEB office.
For more information please contact Elena
Kuznetsova, Coordinator, AEB Migration
committee at [email protected].
12
and department director. It is also possible to
obtain work permits without a quota for teachers of educational institutions, such as foreign
language teachers.
The employer can start the process of
obtaining work permits after receiving a quota
or if he decides to choose any position exempt
from the quota. First, you have to obtain permission to employ foreign nationals. Subsequently, you obtain permission to apply for a
personal work permit for the foreign employee.
After that, the employer has to obtain a work
visa for the employee and his family members.
At the moment, the standard procedure
takes about 4 months. Also, a foreign national,
among other documents, has to present a
degree of higher education and a medical
certificate.
The work permit under the standard procedure is issued for one year. The work visa will
have the same period of validity. The given
work permit cannot be extended; therefore, the
employer will have to repeat the procedure. The
work visa can be extended without leaving Russia provided new work permit is obtained one
month prior to the expiry of the previous one.
The work permit will only be valid in the
constituent entity of the RF in which it was
issued.
Moscow City
On July 1st, 2010, amendments to Federal Law – No 115-FZ came into force. These
amendments considerably simplified the procedure of obtaining work permits for a definite
category of foreign nationals.
The first and the most important innovation
is the introduction of a new category of foreign
employees - the highly skilled specialists.
Obtaining a work permit for
a highly skilled specialist
A work permit for a highly skilled specialist
is obtained without a quota or permission to
employ foreign nationals for the company. The
given work permit can be obtained by practically any Russian legal entity or a branch office
of a foreign legal entity, which is accredited
according to the standard procedure.
Please note that representative offices of
foreign companies do not have the right to
obtain work permits for highly skilled specialists and have to obtain work permits according
to the standard procedure.
The work permit can be issued for a period
of 1 month to 3 years. Besides, the work visa
for the foreign national and his family members can be issued according to the duration of
the work permit.
What are the main requirements
of the Russian Federal Migration
Service (FMS) for the highly skilled
specialist’s work permit?
One of the main criteria is the foreign national’s
salary, which cannot be less than 2 million
rubles per year. The employer should provide
the highly skilled foreign employee and his family members with optional insurance policies.
Compared to the standard procedure of
obtaining work permits, which can take up
to 4 months, a work permit for the highly
skilled specialist is processed within 14 work-
Cathedral of Christ the Savior – Moscow
ing days. The work permit can be issued for
any position. The list of documents required
is considerably shorter when compared with
that for the standard procedure of obtaining
work permits. Also, there is no need to present
a medical certificate and degree of higher education. The employer can estimate the foreign
national’s qualification himself. If necessary,
the work permit can be extended for a period
ranging from 1 month to 3 years.
Please note that as a result of the amendments to the law, a foreign national, having
obtained a work permit as a highly skilled
specialist, can subsequently obtain a residence
permit for himself and his family members that
will remain valid for the same duration as the
work permit.
Work permits for all constituent entities of
the RF can be obtained from the FMS, which is
located at: 4/1, V. Radischevskaya , Moscow;
office hours are from 10.00 till 17.00.
Alexey Filipenkov
Alexey Filipenkov is a partner
and one of the founders of VisaDelight. He has more than ten
years experience in the field of
migration legislation.
Visa-Delight specialises in the provision of
services to foreign companies in all matters
related to the legalisation of foreign labor, as
well as practical issues in the application of
migration law. Alexey has also been the Deputy
Chairman of the AEB Migration Committee
since its foundation.
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia: Love and hate
There are two kinds of people in the world:
those who love Russia and those who hate
it. The first group is motivated by the adventure, authenticity, warmth and generosity of
the Russian people, and, not to forget, by the
enormous market potential. The second group
sees a dangerous, dirty, corrupt, inefficient and
unorganised country, with grim and rude people.
Depending on how you look at it, there is some
truth to both views on Russia. And it is a fact that
most foreigners, and even many Russians, oscil- Fountain in Manezh square – Moscow
late between love and hate for Russia several
times per day. But there is one truth that is undeniable, which is, if you do not enjoy and love the
country most of the time, you will have no chance of success in Russia. I often see them sitting
next to me in the airplane before landing in Moscow: The western businesspeople, wiping their
moist palms on their trousers, for fear of what lies in store once they put their feet on Russian soil.
These fearful visitors run the risk of encountering one problem after the other. There is a 50 meter
long queue at passport control and the window closes just when you are next in line; when it is
finally your turn, you almost get arrested because your friendly effort to say ‘zdrazdvuitje’ (hello)
in Russian is misinterpreted by the grim officer in front of you. Subsequently, while waiting for
your luggage at the luggage belt with the sign ‘Berlin’, as that is where you came from, it arrives
at the belt with the sign ‘Paris’. This, of course, you find out only after you have already spent an
hour trying to declare your luggage as ‘lost’. The taxi driver rips you off and at your hotel, they
cannot find your reservation and do not accept your credit card. Business has not even started yet,
but your trip is already ruined and there is little chance that your luck will change for the better.
On the other hand, those business people who focus on the positive side of things and welcome
the chance to experience something out of the
ordinary, and who can appreciate the unorganised adventure that doing business in Russia
is, usually succeed. They learn a little Russian,
wink at the mustachioed lady at passport control
and are not surprised to find their luggage at
the wrong luggage belt. These are the people
who get satisfaction from solving Russia’s daily
riddles. These are also the people that have
a genuine interest in their Russian business
partners, and eventually end up making friends
with them. Often, people ask me what the main
secret of success in doing business in Russia is.
Statue: The old fisherman and the fish (a Russian
The answer, without a doubt, is - ‘a good sense
fairy tale) – Moscow
of humor’.
Moving to Russia
Flower clock – Moscow
Moving to Russia
Probably, your first reaction when faced with
the fact that there is a possibility that you will
be moving to Russia would be accompanied by
many questions: how to get long-term Russian
visa? How to adapt to the extreme Russian climate? How to understand this language? And
how to move all personal belongings to Russia?
But when you start preparing to relocate to
Russia, you’ll find out that the procedure is not
as complicated as was previously imagined.
If your move to one of Russia’s cities is
short term, there is a possibility that you may
want to bring with you as many of your personal belongings as you possibly can to give
you the home-away-from-home feeling.
There is in fact, in most cases, good reason
to bring along a good part of your personal
belongings. In Russia, most items that you
would be able to purchase at reasonable prices
in your home country, are more expensive, and
16
in some cases, they are not available. However,
you may want to rethink bringing along pieces
of furniture; in Russia, most apartments that are
for rent come fully furnished, hence, the only
items that you may consider are objects that will
help you and your family to adapt to the new
environment. You should also note that due to
climate peculiarities you will need more clothes
and accessories for a comfortable stay in Russia.
Customs formalities
The customs procedures in Russia are very
specific and it would be unwise try to arrange
all the customs formalities on your own The
best solution is to find good moving company that will be able to provide you will with
“Door-to-Door” relocation services. It is better to choose a reliable company that is well
known on the relocation market as a stable
company, with a long-standing reputation and
a network of partners all over the world.
IWM
Your reliable
Mover in Russia
Worldwide Moving
Worldwide Relocation
Office Moves
Apartment Moves
Moscow
phone: (7-495) 937-94-54
fax: (7-495) 937-94-55
Storage
Export/Import clearance
Fine-Art – Antique Shipping
Pets Moving
Multilingual Team
Saint-Petersburg
phone: (7-812) 393-70-54
fax: (7-812) 309-12-12
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
phone: (7-4242) 74-22-90
fax: (7-4242) 72-31-37
www.iwm.
ru
Moving to Russia
The moving company will provide you with
a set of documents required for a problem free
customs clearance process. Note that you have
to prepare two sets of documents – one is for
the customs clearance procedure in your home
country; the second will be presented to the
office of the moving company in Russia. Bear in
mind that you will also need to go to a Russian
notary and make the adequate arrangements
for that; this should include asking your employer to provide your with relevant documents.
Once the legal part of your move is completed, all you need to do is decide on the packing day. To factor in the possibility of unforeseen circumstances, it would be wise to make
an arrangement for several official packing
days. Subsequently, a fight should be booked
that takes off a couple of days after the last
packing day. It is strongly recommended that
you not pack any items of personal belonging
by yourself. Just rely on the professional packers; they use special materials and packing
technologies. Professional packers from a moving company will save you time and your goods
will be delivered to Russia in perfect condition.
Also, make sure that your goods are
insured. Most of the moving companies provide insurance as an additional service based
on the declared value of your goods.
Your moving company should tell you
how long it will take for your goods to arrive
in Russia. Usually, the smaller shipments are
sent by air; they take about a week to arrive.
If goods are being transported by road, for
example, by truck, they will arrive in about
one to two weeks. A container takes about a
month to arrive.
The features of moving to Russia
Do not hesitate to ask the manager of your
moving company for a detailed description
of the relocation process. Russia is a country
with a socioeconomic and political system
that differs from that of many of the mem-
18
Moscow
ber countries of the European Union and the
current legislation is still subject to frequent
changes. The recent creation of the Customs
Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has
led to some vagueness regarding temporary
import to Russia. Therefore, as of now, there
is a possibility that you may be obliged to pay
import taxes and duties or arrange temporarily
import for your household goods. The moving
company must provide you with the precise
details with regard to this issue.
Prohibited goods
According to the Russian customs regulations
some items can not be imported into Russia.
Make sure you request for an updated list of
prohibited goods from your moving company.
The list of prohibited items is almost the same
for companied and unaccompanied luggage and
contains explosives, weapons, food and drugs.
Bringing in over five liters of alcoholic beverages into Russia is prohibited. The importation of
two to five liters of alcoholic beverages is subject
to taxation. To avoid additional customs examination it is strongly recommended that alcoholic
beverages be part of your companied luggage.
The same goes for tobacco products (with the
allowed amount being 250 grams of tobacco).
Artwork
You should be very careful with importing, and
particularly, subsequently exporting any items
of art, for example, photographs, paintings,
musical instruments, some souvenirs, books
that are older than 50 years. Russian legislation is very strict about exporting any goods of
historical value to the country. When importing
Moving to Russia
artwork into Russia, make sure that it is first
of all registered at the customs office; this will
allow you to export it without any problems
when leaving. Those items, which have been
purchased in Russia must be permitted for
export by the Russian Ministry of Culture. Most
moving companies can provide you with all
necessary documents required to export artwork, all you have to do, is bear that in mind.
Cars
The procedure for importing a car for personal
use is quite simple in Russia. You need just to
arrange for a temporarily import for the car
and you can then send it by companied and
unaccompanied shipment. In any case, the
moving company will assist you with that.
Pets
The procedure for bringing pets to Russia is
relatively simple, you will need to provide the
relevant persons with the veterinary documents from your home country.
We believe that choosing a good and reliable moving company will guarantee that
you are comfortable throughout your stay in
Russia, including those first days following
arrival.
Rick Minne
Rick is the Sales Development
Director and thanks to his
personal connections and management style, he runs a very
efficient relocation service at IWM.
A Belgian national who relocated to Moscow in 2008, with a tremendous amount of
relevant experience, Rick understands what
expats/customers are looking for.
IWM is one of the leading moving providers in
Russia, offering household moves for expats
and embassies, and office moves.
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia:
Russians and rules
Russians have an interesting interpretation of
rules. See a ‘no swimming’ sign and you can be
sure that there will be people swimming. See
an emergency exit and you can be sure that the
exit is either used as a regular exit or it is closed
with a lock rendering it useless in the event of
an emergency. See a garbage container, and
usually, you will find the trash next to the container. See a ‘no smoking’ sign in airports and Monument to Emperor Alexander II, the Liberator
public buildings and you will see that the largest Tsar – Moscow
congregations of smokers assemble within a 2
meter radius of this ‘no smoking sign’. Moreover, on closer inspection, you will notice that close
to the ‘no smoking signs’ you can actually, in most cases, find ashtrays placed there by the facility
managers. The Russian needs his freedom and when the foreigner gets used to this way of life,
he or she usually starts to appreciate certain aspects of the Russian’s particular relationship with
rules. While standing in a long line at passport control at the airport, the Russianised foreigner
will try the empty line for diplomats and will be gladly surprised that nobody says a word. Next
time, he will try the shorter line for Russian citizens and also understand that this is no problem
whatsoever. He will be happy to understand that you can park your car almost everywhere and
that speed limits only apply there, where the police controls them. The thing in Russia is to understand that most Russians are practical instead of formalistic about rules. Very often, the short term
objective takes precedence over the long term rationale of a rule. This can be exasperating to
foreigners once in a while, but once you get used to it, you will sometimes see the benefits of a
liberal and practical interpretation of rules.
Manezh square – Moscow
Moscow by night
1. The City: step by step.
Living in Moscow could be fabulous, interesting and unforgettable: a city of contrasts and
fascinating history offers its inhabitants and
guests a variety of adventures.
Moscow is the capital of the largest European country and is situated in the heart of
what is known as European Russia. Hence,
this capital city, being the epicenter of life for
people of different nations and parts of the
world, takes the best from “West” and “East”.
Twenty years ago, Russia opened wide its
doors to business and tourism from all over the
world and Moscow became one of the most
influential and fantastic cities on Earth.
In that chapter, you will discover Moscow
step by step. Have a good trip!
The city is divided into ten administrative
regions (okrugs) and 123 districts. In addition
to the districts, there are Territorial Units with
22
Special Status, or territories. These usually
include areas with small or no permanent populations, such is the case with the All-Russia
Exhibition Centre, the Botanical Garden, large
parks, and industrial zones.
Moscow Centre: step by step
The centre of Moscow is very picturesque and
extraordinary from an architectural point of view:
different styles harmoniously collocate side by
side. Here you will discover the most attractive
and luxurious areas of Moscow – Step by step.
1. Ostozhenka
The area has a rich historical background and
several exceptional sides. It is situated on the
river bank near the Cathedral of Christ the
Savior, the Kremlin, the Red Square and some
of the most popular museums.
Moscow’s aristocracy initially disliked
Ostozhenka and began to settle there only
in the 18th century and in the first quarter of
the 19th century. The architecture of the area
corresponded to the unpretentious tastes of its
inhabitants: modest apartment houses were
side by side with taverns and bars. Over the
many centuries of its existence, it has earned
a reputation for being the most expensive,
prestigious and fashionable area of the city.
Moscow’s guests are attracted by its proximity to the historic walls of the Kremlin and the
domes of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The area is very calm and cosy. This is one
of the areas occupied by Moscow’s elite; it
offers a lot of contemporary buildings, with
unique architectural style, advanced engineering systems and developed infrastructure. At
the same time, it offers a very special neighborhood – wealthy intellectuals and individuals
from major international and Russian companies and embassies.
2. Patriarshy Prudi (Patriarshy ponds)
The cultural and aristocratic center of Moscow
is situated around the Patriarshy pond. Currently, there is only one pond, which is surrounded by a garden. In the 17th century, it was
a whole district called the Goat Marsh and it
was part of the Patriarch suburb. Here, somewhere in the vicinity, was the Patriarch Zhitnii
yard. By order of the Patriarch, the Ponds were
dug to “supply” fish for the patriarchal table.
Nowadays, the best locations in this area
are with a view over the pond. During the
warm summer days, the park is filled with
people promenading, children playing games
and young people sitting and talking on the
benches, while in the winter, the pond turns
into an ice skating ring. This area hosts the best
restaurants, main theaters and nightlife. This
area is also legendary from the literary point
of view: a lot of Russian writers (and their
protagonists) lived here.
3. Arbat
4. Tverskaya
A wonderful area situated around one of the
most ancient streets of Moscow. From the late
18th and 19th centuries, this area was dominated by the home-estates of nobles; in the
second half of the 19th century, this was the
place where one would find the majority of
Moscow’s intelligentsia.
This is Moscow’s aorta and was the most luxurious area during the Russian Empire epoch .
The Tverskaya Street has long been considered
a benchmark for luxury and prestige.
The Arbat Street is one of the oldest streets
of the capital. For Muscovites, it’s not just a
street, but a special "piece" of the capital,
a kind of "Moscow within Moscow”, with
its own history, identity and traditions. The
street’s image is created by its residents. It
was always “a closed world”, full of exceptional people: the aristocracy and intellectuals. The
list of famous arbat people “arbattovsi”, works
written, masterpieces created and scientific
discoveries made in this place could serve as
information for an encyclopedia. This is also
the reason why many memorial museums and
commemorative plates are placed here.
Arbat has always been one of the most
beautiful streets of the city. Gradually, century
after century, the street emerged with its own
unique architectural style. It boasts original
ancient mansions with moldings, balconies and
caryatids, small cozy lanes, laced lamps, stone
paved roads. During the Soviet government,
the Old Arbat changed irreversibly: in the early
1960s, it became the laid back street of the
new modern avenue - the New Arbat. This led
to the destruction of many 18 and 19 century
monuments; nevertheless, the Arbat has not
lost its charm. Walking along the streets and
lanes here, you can touch the history of Russia;
it is almost every house on Arbat - even the
small and seemingly insignificant, when examined will reveal the names and events that are
impossible to forget. In 1986, Arbat became a
pedestrian street. Nowadays, it remains one
of the most prestigious areas of Moscow and
from a cultural point of view, an absolutely
fascinating place.
24
In the 15th century, it was a trade road from
the Kremlin to Tver, which was one of the
most important and influential cities at that
time. Many innovations in Moscow started
from the Tverskaya Street, though not all of
them were beneficial to the ancient capital
and its culture. It was completely reconstructed in the 1930s. In 1932, the street was named
after Maxim Gorky, a proletarian writer. This
was a present from the Stalin government,
made during the writer’s lifetime. Soon, the
Tverskaya street met a tragic fate; it was the
first street reconstructed according to the
master plan for the socialist reconstruction
of Moscow. Subsequently, it lost not only its
original name, but its personality. This was the
result of L. Kaganovich’s (a powerful "architect
of socialism") vision.
Once again known as the Tverskaya street,
time has hardly changed its usual trends. The
modern Tverskaya remains the most important commercial, business and cultural street
of the capital, with the most expensive and
luxurious hotels being located here: the RitzCarlton, the Marriott, the Hyatt etc. Being a
business area, Tverskaya has a limited number
of residential buildings; therefore, the prices
for living here are quite high.
5. Hamovniki and Pluchikha
This area is very popular among business
people and expatriates. A large number of the
buildings were constructed during the Stalin
epoch; therefore, the architecture is quite
specific, surviving the buildings of “a new era”
(Soviet period architecture).
At the end of the 17th century, this green
picturesque area drew a lot of attention.
This was followed by the rise of suburban
estates with regular parks, ponds and buildings belonging to such eminent families as
Dolgoruky Volkonskiy, Galitzin, Trubetskoy,
Obolensky, Kropotkin, to mention but a few.
The erection of modern plots on the Frunzenskaya Embankment and Komsomolsky
prospect began only after the revolution in
the late 1920s. First, there were a few 4 and
5 storey houses the silk factory workers. Subsequently, the area began to develop rapidly the scope of work had tremendous character.
The Frunzenskaya Embankment was erected
in granite and combined piers for river trams.
A lot of Stalin style architecture buildings,
such as the Ministry of Defense were built
in this period. Most of the buildings in the
Hamovniki area are of the business-class. The
area is still one of the most rapidly developing
in Moscow.
6. Zamoskvorechye
This is one of the biggest parts of old Moscow.
Situated on a river bank, this area is composed
of different types of buildings, both old and
modern. There are also a lot of museums and
churches in the area.
In 1591, the wooden walls on the ground
embankment under the Garden Ring were
erected in Zarechye. Due to the specificity
the territory, Zarechye settlements were of
the suburban type for a long time. Until the
end of the 19th century, the residential development of Zarechye evolved largely from
smaller urban mansions with gardens and
orchards. This created a spacious urban landscape with silhouettes of churches and bell
towers. Thanks to the flat topography and low
building height, the Kremlin hill is clearly visible
to the southern outskirts of the city. With a
sharp bend of the river, from the coastal hills to
25
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia:
Better to have 100 friends
than 100 rubles
‘It’s better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles’
is a saying that every Russian will consent to.
Dealing with the daily reality in Russia can be
a daunting task. Many domestic matters, daily
chores or banal issues at work that can be dealt
with in the blink of an eye in many countries,
often manifest themselves as major obstacles in
Russia. The service sector is still underdeveloped Petersgof - Russia
in Russia and official institutions and organisations are still lacking. For the most mundane tasks
that elsewhere, you can solve in minutes by opening the yellow pages or browsing the internet, in
Russia, you will need to rely on the people who you know. This network of people that are close
to you and that you can rely on, is something I call the Micro Cosmos. You will see that every Russian has this Micro Cosmos around him or herself. After 16 years of living in Russia, I also came to
realise that I created this Micro Cosmos that helps me to deal with most problems in one or two
phone calls. Via friends and friends of friends you can get just about everything done. Your work
permit, the right apartment, your car registration, without the need to stand for hours in a queue,
the best doctor in town or the right business partner. All of this can be easily arranged through
your Micro Cosmos, whereas, the official channels mostly come up blank when you need a solution. The Micro Cosmos does not only exist on the level of individual people; the government and
big Russian companies function according to this principle. Business and political leaders always
bring their close group of trusted people whenever they occupy a new post. Even corporate
and national political policy often stems from the
idea of this Micro Cosmos. Russian businesses
prefer to do everything in-house, whereas, their
Western equivalents would outsource many
tasks. Also, the Russian national policy is focused
at establishing independence from the outside
world. Russian political leaders would deep
down prefer to deal with other countries from
the position of autarkic independency. These
Micro Cosmoses are the building blocks of the
cohesion of Russian society. Each Micro Cosmos
functions according to its own rules and systems
and although Russia often seems unorganised
and unexplainable to foreign eyes, much can be
explained by recognising and understanding the
workings of the Russian Micro Cosmos.
Red square– Moscow
the South-West and South-East of the Kremlin,
it offers magnificent views.
The significant development that took place
in this area up until 1917 contributed significantly to the erection of many a building.
After 1917, Zamoskvorechie was very densely
populated. All the old mansions and apartment houses were turned into communal
apartments. Nationalised by the Soviet power,
Zamoskvorechie was the glory of the industrial
district. In the last decade of the 20th century,
extensive restoration and reconstruction work
was carried out in Zamoskvorechye, with the
aim of preserving and restoring this district’s
architecture.
7. Chistye prudi (Chistye ponds)
This is Moscow’s historical center, full of parks
and beautiful corners. It is very calm and full
of old mansions. Subsequently, it has a very
special architectural style. With a heterogeneous social background and a large number of
theatres, this is one of the most prestigious
and popular districts, ideal for people interested in cultural life.
When the White city wall was built across
the Moscow river, a pond was formed. Initially,
it served as a garbage disposal site for waste
from the butcher shops located on the nearby
Myasnitskaya street .
Sweeping changes begun in 1703, when
Alexander Menshikov acquired a big manor on
Myasnitskaya street. The prince did not want
to live in a less than ideal place; therefore,
he ordered that the ponds be cleaned and
named “Pure” (“Chistye” in Russian). Thanks
to Menshikov, this area has of one of the most
well-known historical buildings - the church of
Archangel Gabriel.
In 1960, the coasts of the pond were lined
with stone to prevent erosion. Social status
wise, this area is a pocket of contradiction with
a few recently built elite houses among private
historical residences that were preserved as
monuments of architecture. Currently, development is being geared towards the reconstruction and restoration of private residences.
8. Sretenka: Tsvetnoi Boulevard
Historically, this was both a residential and
commercial area, with craftsmen living and
working here. Nowadays, there are a lot of
reconstructed old buildings in that part of Moscow. So, if you are interested in living in the “old
city”, you should choose the Sretenka area.
In the 17th century, Sretenka was made up
of traders’ stands and craftsmen’s workshops.
The length of the entire modern Sretenka is
only 800 meters, but it is literally divided by
lanes: on the left hand side of the street there
are seven, and on right - nine. There are also
lanes that do not lead directly to Sretenka, but
are in immediate proximity.
The area of Sretenka is characterised by a
big number of reconstructed buildings, with
historical facades that are typical of old Moscow. The paradox of the area is that there is a
considerable number of dilapidated buildings
often adjoining modern and reconstructed
structures. The area’s buildings are concentrated along the streets Sretenka, Trubnaya
and Tsvetnoi Boulevard, where coffee houses,
restaurants and shops are located.
9. Krasnaya Presnya. Barrikadnaya
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the area developed as a craftsmen’s and trade center. Presnya became a large arts and craft shopping
centre of the city and a favorite vacation spot
for Muscovites. In our days, it is a very popular
location, where federal and city structures are
located: the House of the Government of the
Russian Federation, World Trade Centre, Moscow Zoo, Cinema House, ITAR-TASS, Expocentre. The construction of the largest in Europe
international business centre - "Moscow City"
will increase development and activity in this
27
area, eventually turning it into a modern Manhattan of Moscow.
This area is not on the elite areas list
despite the fact that one of the very first and
well-known elite houses in Moscow – Agalarov
House - was erected here. On the other hand,
the proximity to the Kutuzovsky prospect
makes it very attractive to many people.
10. Taganskaya
The district "Taganka" is located between the
rivers: Moscow and Yauza.
The street Taganskaya itself dates back
to the 14th century. It was a part of the road
to Kolomna, Ryazan and other cities. After a
fire in 1812, many large and beautiful stone
houses were built along the street. Some of
these houses were converted to factories
by their owners. In 1867, over 60% of the
houses located 35 yards from the main street
belonged to merchants, some of whom were
at the time already bestowed the title of honourary citizen.
Taganka acquired industrial features; the
first decade of the 20th century finally turned
Taganka into one of the largest industrial areas
of Moscow. Although, by that time, the inhabitants there were no longer merchants, but
working class people. After the revolution, the
area was called “the Proletarian” up until 1936,
when it was renamed “Taganskaya”.
Where to live and how much does it cost
The majority of people who come to Moscow
on a long-term employment contract are faced
with the problem of finding a proper residence.
You can opt for staying in the center and enjoying the entertainment, shopping and night life
options the city has to offer; this is a common
choice for single persons or couples without
children. Families that come to Moscow with
children mostly opt for staying on the outskirts,
the so-called cottage settlements, in order to
28
provide safer ecological conditions for the children, though this means sacrificing a considerable amount of time towards travelling to and
from work. The table below provides the general characteristics of the types of accommodation, their features and prices based on the classification existing currently on the Moscow residential market. This is an extended overview;
for more information, all interested persons are
encouraged to take a so-called “look-and-see
tour”, offered by any proper real estate company. This will help them understand what is being
offered on the market. Rest assured, whatever
your choice, every part of Moscow is fascinating
and has its distinctive features. Spending time
in this city would definitely become one of your
most exciting experiences!
It is common knowledge that many people
prefer living in the suburbs, having their own
house and being closer to nature; these are the
things they sometimes treasure more than the
prestige of living in the city centre. An alternative to renting a town house or a house outside
Moscow exists; the only reason why it is yet to
become widely popular is the current location
of good schools. However, developers have
found a solution by erecting several cottage
settlements near famous international schools,
the most famous of them are the Rosinka and
Pokrovsky Hills compounds at Serebryany Bor.
These settlements already have many expatriates living there; with a favourable atmosphere
for socialising, this arrangement also helps
facilitate cultural adjustment. Both of these settlements have good quality housing, round the
clock security and own infrastructure, with the
prices varying between 10,000 and 50,000$.
Useful links:
Real estate companies:
www.mayfair.su
www.intermarksavills.ru
www.realtor.ru
www.evans.ru
www.delight.ru
Types of buildings
Types of
Buldings
1
De luxe
Luxe
Business
Econom
4
5
2
3
Location
Downtown, inside
the Garden Ring, or
prestigious areas in
immediate proximity
from it. Locations like:
Ostozhenka, Arbat,
Zamoskvorechye,
Plyuschikha, etc.
The central district,
the Western and
South-West districts.
Any except
ecologically
problematic
districts
Any
Architecture
The unique modern
architectural project,
unique shape
The unique modern
architectural project,
unique shape
Modern
architectural
project
Any
Has serious
Has serious reputation
Development
reputation and
and authority on the
company
authority on the elite
elite real estate market
real estate market
Has long
experience
Any
on the real estate
market
Interior
decoration
At the highest level,
expensive light
engineering, natural
finishing materials
Decent light
engineering,
finishing combines
natural and artificial
materials.
Not very
expensive
materials
Simple.
Cheap
Number of
apartments
Less than 25
Less than 80
Any
Any
Technique
Advanced systems
of ventilation and
air-conditioning,
independent systems
of power supply,
system of water
filtration.
Modern systems of
ventilation and
air-conditioning.
Balanced system
of ventilation
Simple
Underground or
surface. 1 slot for
apartment
Might be
available for
additional
payment on a
guarded parking
in about 10 min
walk from the
building
No
Parking
Underground parking,
minimum 2 slots for
apartment
29
1
Security
Extra
services
2
3
Fenced territory
under professional
surveillance.
Fenced territory
under video
Inner yard with profes- surveillance
sional landscape works.
24-hour technical
support, reception,
delivery service,
24-hour technical
professional cleaning,
support, delivery
gardener, children’s
service.
playroom with nannies.
4
5
Not fenced.
Video
Surveillance
surveillance. The
of the
territory might be
entrance of
partly fenced.
the building
No
No
Fitness facilities,
swimming-pool, sauna.
Average
price
(per month)
Any.
10,000–50,000 Euro
5,000–20,000 Euro
2,000-5,000 Euro 500-1,000
Euro
Moscow Elite Residential Rental Market, Price in USD, by Areas as of October 2010
Area
1-room
ArbatKropotkinskaya
2 700 ± 1 000 3400 ± 1500
Zamoskvorechye
2 500 ± 1 000 3 000 ± 1 000 5 000 ± 2 500 8 000 ± 3 000 12 000 ± 6 000
Patriarshiy Ponds
Lubyanka-KitayGorod
2-rooms
3 000 ± 800
2 000 ± 100
3-rooms
4-rooms
5-rooms
5 600 ± 3 000 8 700 ± 4 000 13 500 ± 5 000
5 000 ± 1 500 8 000 ± 3 000 14 000 ± 6 000
3 500 ± 1 000 5 000 ± 1 500 6 000 ± 2 000 10 000 ± 4 000
Tverskaya-Kremlin 3 500 ± 1 000 3 500 ± 1 000 6 000 ± 2 500 7 000 ± 3 000 11 000 ± 3 000
Tsvetnoy Blvd
3 000 ± 1 000 5 000 ± 1 500 6 500 ± 2 000 10 000 ± 3 000
Leningradskiy
Prospekt
3 500 ± 1 000 5 500 ± 2 500 6 500 ± 2 000 9 000 ± 4 000
Krasnopresnenskaya
3 000 ± 1 000 4 500 ± 2 000 6 000 ± 2 500 9 000 ± 3 000
Kutuzovskiy
Prospect
2 000 ± 500
Leninskiy Prospect
Prospekt Mira
2 500 ± 1 000 4 000 ± 1 500 6 500 ± 3 000 9 000 ± 3 000
3 000 ± 1 000 4 500 ± 2 000 6 500 ± 2 500 11 500 ± 4 500
2 500 ± 500
4 500 ± 1 500 5 500 ± 2 500 8 000 ± 2 000
Sokolniki
3 000 ± 500
5 000 ± 1 000
Frunzenskaya
2 500 ± 500
5 500 ± 2 000 4 500 ± 1 000 10 000 ± 3 000
Kuntcevo
3 500 ± 500
5 000 ± 2 000 7 500 ± 3 000 10 500 ± 4 000
Taganskaya
2 000 ± 500
2 000 ± 500
3 000 ± 1 000 4 000 ± 1 000 7 000 ± 500
This information was provided by Intermarksavills
30
2. Living in Moscow:
other useful facts
Magic World Kindergarten:
www.mgworld.ru/eng
a. For those with children
Children’s entertainment
There are over 1800 high schools and 110 colleges in Moscow. There are also over 200 institutions offering higher education in Moscow,
including 60 state universities and the leading
Russian University - the Lomonosov Moscow
State University, which was founded in 1755.
There are several options for keeping your
children entertained in Moscow. These include
ice rinks, horse riding, dance and theater classes, roller skate parks and various sport schools.
Schools (“shkoli”)
Moscow has a number of international schools
that are popular with the expat community.
These include the Anglo-American and British
International schools. All offer English speaking
classes, with academic qualifications recognised worldwide. All schools are fee-paying.
The fees depend on the grade level, period
of enrolment and whether or not your child
requires any additional support programmes.
In general, the fees are 3,000 to 7,000 euro
a month. The admission procedures for all
schools are quite complex and consist of several steps (application form, test, interview
etc); therefore, it is better to begin to do it well
in advance.
Useful links:
English International School of Moscow:
www.englishedmoscow.com
Anglo American School of Moscow (AAS):
www.aas.ru
British International School of Moscow
(BISM): www.bismoscow.com
International School of Moscow:
www.internationalschool.ru
German School:
schulwebs1.dasan.de/ds_moskau
Nordic School: http://www.nordicschool.ru
French Lycee: www.lfm.ru
The English Nursery School: englishnursery.ru
Little Angels International Kindergaten:
www.littleangels.ru
Useful links:
Children in Moscow: www.childreninmoscow.ru
Wiki List of Parks & Gardens: en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Parks_and_gardens_in_Moscow
All Russian Exhibition Center (AREC):
www.vvcentre.ru/eng/recreation/entertainment
Moscow Zoo: www.zoo.ru/moscow/defengl.htm
Fantasy Park: www.fpark.ru
Sand Project: www.sandproject.ru
Moscow Botanical Gardens:
www.moscow.info/parks/botanical-gardens
Beaches and Pools in Moscow:
www.expat.ru/s_beaches_and_pools.php
b. Health (“zdorovie”)
1. Medical centers (“Polycliniki”/ “Gospitolya”)
The Russian health care system has seen major
improvements in recent years, both in technologies and pharmaceuticals. Moscow hosts
a number of Western medical clinics that can
look after all of your family's health needs. The
clinics are spread out over the city; therefore,
regardless of your location, there is sure to be
a good medical facility in the vicinity.
Useful links:
Emergency Number: 03
International SOS (The Moscow Clinic, 24 hour
service to its clients):
www.internationalsos.com/en
American Medical Centers (24 hours service):
www.amcenter.ru/en
31
European Medical Center (French, British and
American experts): www.emcmos.ru/en
American Clinic: americanclinic.ru/eng
US Dental Care (Canadian, American and
Russian specalists. Open 7 days a week):
www.usdentalcare.com
American Dental Center: www.americandental.ru/index.html
The American Russian Dental Center (the
clinic is Moscow's only Russian affiliate of the
American Dental Clinic): ardc.ru/eindex.html
Information about pharmacies in Moscow:
www.mosaptec.ru
Internet – pharmacy: www.pastera.ru/
Pharmacy 36,6: www.366.ru
Rigla: www.rigla.ru
Old Lekar: www.oldlekar.ru
c. Shopping
- Cheap (*)
- Middle class (**/***)
- Expensive (****/*****)
For the most part, shopping in Moscow is a
24hr affair and you can find anything you want.
Groceries: From small convenience stores
located close to apartment blocks and Metro
stations to huge shopping centers found
everywhere, including the city outskirts, you
can buy pretty much everything you need. For
those who like to shop in supermarkets, there
is a variety of different chains, offering a wide
range of products, including some that are
popular particularly within the expatriate community. Farmers markets, where fresh food
can be purchased also exist.
Clothing and accessories: These can also
be purchased everywhere, with the options
ranging from everyday affordable to designer
and haute couture. The most expensive outlets
such as Chanel and Hermes are located on
theTretjakov passage and Stoleshnikov Lane;
while the less expensive clothing lines, such as
H&M, Zara etc. can be found in many Moscow
shopping centers.
32
Azbuka vkusa ***** www.azbukavkusa.ru
Stockmann
***** www.stockmann.ru
Seventh
continent
****
www.7cont.ru/eng
Perekrestok
***
www.perekrestok.ru/
Carrefour
**
www.carrefour.ru
Auchan
**
www.auchan.ru/en
Kopeika
*
Piaterochka
*
www.e5.ru
2. Shopping Centers
Auchan: www.auchan.ru/en
GUM (A huge shopping mall located right on
the Red Square): www.gum.ru/en
TSUM (Continuing the age-old traditions, TSUM
today – is the first and only department store
of the country, offering the highest quality
products): www.tsum.ru
Stockmann: www.stockmann.ru/portal/en
Mega Mall: Mega Mall is one of the largest
shopping malls in Europe and includes a huge
Auchan hypermarket, skating rink, cinema, food
court and hundreds of Russian and Western
retail outlets including Zara, Mango, and Mexx.
www.eng.megamall.ru/main.wbp
IKEA: www.ikea.com/ru
Crocus City Mall: www.crocus-city.ru/eng
d. Pets
Russian veterinary medicine offers quality service; it is not hard to find the same quality of
service you are used to in your native country.
Moscow has a number of veterinary services
to choose from, although not all vets may
speak English.
Useful Links
Move One Relocations: Pet Transport: www.
moveonerelo.com/pets/
Moscow Animals: www.moscowanimals.org/
English Speaking Vets: www.moscowanimals.
org/advice/vet.html
3. Time out
Russians are very friendly and hospitable people. Also, there are many expats already living
and working in Moscow who will be happy to
welcome a newcomer and offer any advice
being sought.
Damas Latinas: www.geocities.com/dlatinas/
club.html
Moskva Accueil (French Women's Club):
www.site-moskva-accueil.org
Swedish Women's Educational Association
(SWEA): www.swea.org
a. Art
Useful Links
The Moscow Expat Site: www.expat.ru
The Moscow Guide: guides.moscowtimes.ru
Moscow Life: www.moscow-life.com
Expat Blogs: www.expat-blog.com
Ways to Russia: www.waytorussia.net
Moscow in your Pocket: www.inyourpocket.
com/russia/Moscow
Useful links:
Information about museums:
http://www.museum.ru/
Information about theaters:
http://www.theatre.ru/emain.html
Useful links:
Information about parks: http://bestguide.ru/
International Clubs & Associations:
The International Women's Club of Moscow:
www.iwcmoscow.ru
British Women's Club of Moscow: www.bwcmoscow.co.uk
American Women's Organization of Moscow:
www.awomoscow.org
b. Cinema
Useful links:
Information about Moscow cinemas:
www.afisha.ru
http://www.kinoafisha.msk.ru/
Restaurants
McDonald’s
*
As everywhere in the world
Elki-palki
*
Russian
Mu-mu
*
Russian
Korchma Taras Bulba
**
Ukrainian
Yakitoria
**
Japanese. Chinese
Il patio
**
Italian
Fish house Filimonoff & Yankel
***
Fish
Steak House Goodman
***
American
Friday’s
***
Mexican
Vogue Cafe
****
European
Chez Geraldin
****
French
Oblomov
****
Russian. European
Bellagio Giardino
****
Italian
Cafe Pushkin
*****
Russian
Nedalny Vostok
*****
Chinese. Japanese.
Cantinetta Antinori
*****
Italian
Turandot
*****
Russian. Japanese. Chinese.
34
c. Sport and outdoor activity
■
Useful links:
Fitness clubs: http://www.worldclass.ru/
Information about ice rinks in Moscow:
http://katok2.ru/
Skiing: www.volen.ru
■
■
Restaurants
■
- Cheap (*)
- Middle class (**/***)
- Expensive (****/*****)
■
■
Useful links:
Information about restaurants in Moscow:
http://resto.ru/
http://www.restoran.ru/
d. Night life
The nightlife in Moscow has moved on since
the Soviet times. Today Moscow houses many
of the worlds largest nightclubs. Many establishments operate as restaurants and cafes during the day, transforming into a club at night.
The major and most popular nightlife areas are
around Tverskaya Street and Krasnaya Presnya.
Useful links:
Information about night life in Moscow:
http://www.clubmap.ru/tag/msk/
4. DOs and DON’Ts
Airport:
■
■
■
Do not change money at the airport.
Do not use the services of taxi drivers that
jump on you when you enter the airport.
Do engage the services of an official taxi.
City:
■
Do prepare cash for buying the tickets in
public transport (metro, bus etc) – you can
not pay with a credit card.
Do not be afraid to smile and say “hello” to
people. Although relatively new, the culture
of well-wishing is rapidly developing.
Do not hail a car (gypsy cab) – better call a
taxi. It will be safer, especially, if you not an
“experienced” expat in Moscow. You can not
pay with a credit card,
even in major taxi companies.
Do not be afraid to ask if you are lost – it will
be a pleasure for people to help you.
Do wait for a few seconds after the green
light lights before crossing the street – the
traffic is very unpredictable.
Do always have your documents ( passport
and registration/visa) with you – you could be
asked by the police to show it at any point in
time, also, you are usually required to show
your passport as a means of identification
when making payment with a bank card or during transactions involving currency exchange.
Entertainment:
■
■
Do not engage in a drinking contest with a
Russian – this may lead to less than desirable
repercussions.
Do smoke in restaurants – it is still not forbidden.
Welcome to Russia: enjoy Moscow!
Marina Markarova
Managing partner — General
Director of the consulting real
estate company MAYFAIR
Properties. Founded in 2006,
MAYFAIR Properties is set up to provide
the highest quality residential and relocation advisory services. MAYFAIR Properties
is also offering services in the fields of elite
residential, land properties and commercial
real estate. Our Residential Department offers
a wide range of relocation and residential
services to assist your company. Our aim is
to provide the best and most exclusive services
for clients with employees looking to work in
Russia or move to live in Moscow.
35
Property of Four Squares
Serviced apartment
Serviced accommodation in Moscow
Serviced accommodation can be a good solution for business travellers and tourists looking
for an alternative to hotels.
Serviced accommodation in Moscow can be
split into three groups:
■ Hostels (economy level)
■ Serviced Apartments (mid-range)
■ Apart’hotels (premium)
Hostels
Ideal for students and budget travellers, there
are a number of western-style hostels that
have opened in central Moscow over the last
five years. They offer traditional dormitorystyle accommodation (i.e. bunk-beds), as well
as separate rooms for 2 to 4 people. Rates are
relatively competitive. In line with the economy level status, “functionality” best describes
the level of fixtures and fittings. Hostels may
not be a long-term option for living in Moscow,
but they are an economical solution for those
on a tight budget - and a quick way to make
friends with the other 50 guests in the place
JGodzillas (www.godzillashostel.com);
■
■
■
■
New Arbat (www.hostelnewarbat.ru);
Oasis hostel (www.oasishostel.ru);
Moscow Home hostel (www.moshostel.ru);
Napoleon Hostel (www.napoleonhostel.com).
36
Serviced Apartments (SA’s)
Serviced Apartments are popular with business
travellers and tourists who are looking for an
alternative to hotels. There are a number of
western companies who provide this service
and maintain a portfolio of properties for rent.
Most of the apartments are located in central
Moscow and close to the central business
districts at Moscow City, Paveletskaya, Smolenskaya, Belorusskaya. One unique feature of
Moscow SA’s is that they are usually individual
properties located in normal residential buildings (in London and other major capitals all the
apartments in a block are likely to be serviced
apartments). This allows you a fascinating
insight into Russian life, through daily interaction with the neighbours, but also means you
also share the same building entrance – which
may need a good clean now and again.
A standard serviced apartment is a 1 or 2
bedroom apartment, good western-style renovation and fitted out with all mod-cons. Internet, satellite-TV and local phone calls are all
free, and apartments should have a welcome
pack (complimentary tea, coffee) and maps of
Moscow. Some companies have 24/7 help-line
support. For large families or business groups
there are also 4 and 5 room apartments, with
baby cots and baby tables optional extras. For
short stays of 2 to 3 days many businessmen
prefer a hotel stay which includes breakfast,
but for longer stays a SA is a more convenient
choice, especially for families
Serviced apartment providers include Four
Squares (www.foursquares.com), Flat Link
(www.flatlink.ru), Moscow Suites (www.moscowsuites.ru), Like Home (www.kakdoma.ru).
Apart’hotels
There are a few Apart’hotels in Moscow, but
the market is very under-supplied, and those
now in operation cater to the premium segment. Serviced accommodation here comprises 1 to 4 room apartments in a VIP-style
environment. Benefits include 24 hour concierge service and a premium level of interior
design and fit-out. The price may be beyond
the budget of most expats and businessmen,
but this is a niche market that provides a high
level of service.
Apart’hotels include Mamaison (www.
mamaison.com) and Ukraine hotel (www.
ukraina-hotel.ru).
Michael Bartley
Michael is Partner and General
Director at Four Squares Relocations. A British national who
speaks fluent Russian, Michael
first came to Russia in 1994, and has worked
in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. With over
15 years experience in the region, Michael
provides invaluable insight into the Russian
market from a relocation perspective. Four
Squares is a leading Relocation provider in
Russia, offering in-house Immigration Services,
Serviced Apartments, House Rentals and Settling-in Services. Four Squares employs a team
of Expats and Russian nationals, to ensure the
ideal mix of professionalism, quality of service
and local expertise.
St. Petersburg
Districts of St. Petersburg
Admiralty/St Isaac’s
The Golden Triangle
Some of the grandest apartments on the
market can be found here, the Admiralty
Embankment has spectacular views over the
Neva River and most apartments have high
ceilings and many have restored a lot of the
original features. With the spire of the Admiralty visible from the far ends of Gorokhovaya,
Voznesenskiy and Nevskiy as they all radiate
from it; many may feel this is the true center
of St Petersburg. The Admiralty was in fact the
headquarters of the Russian navy from 1711
to 1917. It now houses the country’s largest
military naval college. The Admiralty Garden
is a public open space with a well kept park,
musical fountain in the summer and a children’s playground. It is within walking distance
to all the central historical and cultural venues
of St. Petersburg.
This is the area North of Nevskiy Prospect
bordered by the Neva to the North and Fontanka on the East. It is the most prestigious
area, as well as the most popular area to live
in amongst the foreign community. The area
has four large parks - the Summer, Fields of
Mars, Mikhailovskiy and Admiralty Gardens. It
also has all the advantages Nevskiy prospect
can offer with shops, cinemas and museums
including both the Hermitage and Russian
museums. Nevskiy Prospect itself can be noisy
to live on, but has a thriving residential neighborhood. Parking can be a problem, therefore,
if you intend to drive your own car you would
be advised to ask your agent about this. There
are several garages, where a designated space
can be rented by the month.
38
Tavricheskiy Gardens and Smolniy
Here, you will find many of the consulates,
including British, American, Finnish, German,
Austrian and Indian. The large park at Tavricheskiy was renovated a few years ago. It is now a
good place for walking and has three children’s
play areas and a fenced football field. Some
houses have parking spaces in their courtyards.
Krukov Canal
The small area between Krukov canal, St.
Nicholas Church and the Mariinskiy Theatre
has some lovely buildings. It is away from the
rush and noise of Nevskiy Prospect, but, other
than the small park around St. Nicholas itself,
the area is very short of green space. A large
number of communal apartments still exist in
this area.
Petrogradskaya district
Petrogradskaya is a busy residential area, particularly, for wealthy Russians. This neighborhood includes the green islands to the North:
Kamenniy, Kristovskiy and Yelagin islands,
where many residents relax during the weekends.
b. Taxi
Telephone: +7 (812) 309-00-18 and 970-66-64
c. Emergency car pickup (24 hrs)
LAT 001 or 987 0000
SPAS agency +7 (812) 327-7001
RENT-A-CAR
a. Hertz
Telephone: +7 (812) 326-4505 or 324-3242
www.hertz.spb.ru
Pulkovo airport Terminal 2
b. Europcar
Collection points: Nevskiy 25 (Atrium) or Pulkovo Airport Terminal 2
Telephone: +7 (812) 336-32-55
Website: www.europcar.ru (Russian, English)
c. Pulkovo Rent-a-car
Telephone: +7 (812) 332-0101
Pulkovo Airport Terminal 2
d. Avis
Address: Alexander Nevskiy 2
Telephone: +7 (812) 600-1213
Website: www.avis-rentacar.ru
Avis offer an easy option for collection and
drop off from either of the airport terminals or
the above address.
Vasilevskiy Island
The intellectual heart of the city; this is where
you will find the university, art academy and
many other academic institutions.
Useful links
AIRPORT
Pulkovo St. Petersburg airport
website: www.pulkovoairport.ru
All flight information can be obtained online
TAXIS
METRO
The Metro in St. Petersburg is the deepest in
the world. It is fast and efficient – you rarely
need to wait more than 2 minutes for a train.
However, during rush hour (8 to 10 am and 5 to
7:30 pm) it can become very crowded. There
are 4 color coded and numbered lines. Tickets
can be bought at the ticket point found at the
entrance ‘kassa’ or you can buy plastic cards to
be used for ten or more journeys; these cards
are valid for a fixed period of time (7days, 14
days or more depending on the number of
passes purchased).
a. Peterburgskoe taxi
Telephone: +7 (812) 3-200-200
39
TROLLEYBUS/TRAM/BUS
The tram system in St. Petersburg is the largest in the world, with over 2,400 cars and 690
km track! They are usually very reliable when
used to travel within the same neighborhood
or getting to the metro, but they can be very
crowded and dirty.
MARSHRUTKA/ MINIBUS-SHUTTLE
A marshrutka is a privately owned minibus that
runs a fixed route through St. Petersburg and
its suburbs. Marshrutkas are fast and cheap,
although, they may be a bit confusing for firsttime users.
HOME SERVICES
TV
There only one legal satellite TV operator in St.
Petersburg, which offers a package of international channels:
NTV Plus
Telephone: +7 (812) 346-8198
Website: www.ntvplus.ru
DOMESTIC HELP
(Drivers/Housekeeper/Nannies)
You should not expect domestic help to speak
English, some do, most do not. The best way
of finding help is through personal recommendations at work or through friends; you can
also check out the "Funstuff'' newsletter (see
section on Women's Clubs for details on how
to receive this excellent source of information)
for advertisements placed by families leaving
or you can put in your own advertisement
request when you arrive.
DRY CLEANERS
a. Balakomp
Address: Karavannaya Street 16
Telephone: +7 (812) 571-9306 and 311-9306
Small but professional
40
Russkiy Ostrov
Address: Canal Griboedova 55
Telephone: +7 (812) 571-7877 and 311-7778
Auchan
The Auchan supermarkets at both Mega Malls –
‘Mego Dubenko’ and ‘Mega Parnas’ will clean
just about everything including down duvets
and pillows and at very reasonable prices.
Telephone: +7 (812) 448-4401
website: www.megamall.ru (the site is in Russian only for now, but the English version will
be available soon!)
Gryazi Net!
Telephone: +7 (812) 323-0512
clean clothes, curtains - many locations for
your nearest look on www.gryazinet.ru
WATER DELIVERY
The water in St. Petersburg is NOT safe to drink
and should not be used to brush one’s teeth.
a. Nestle Water Coolers
Telephone: +7 (812) 332-0340
Website: www.nestle-purelife.ru (Russian and
English)
b. Crystal Springs
Telephone: +7 (812) 33-44-889
Website: www.cswater.ru
c. Rosinka-Polystrovo
Telephone: +7 (812) 320 20 40
Website: www.polustrovo.ru
They sell both Rosinka and Kluchevaya, but
Rosinka 2 is recommended for children due to
its mineral content.
KINDERGARTENS
Note that in addition to those mentioned there
will probably be Russian kindergartens near
to where you are living some of which are
fantastic – children can stay there from 8:30am
any time up to 7pm at night and they have a
proper sleep after lunch where they all get
into pajamas and somehow get 20 or 30 kids
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia: Pride
According to good Russian tradition you may find
yourself at a certain point in time sitting around
a kitchen table, with your Russian friends, discussing all that is right and wrong in this country.
After a good meal and the customary glass of
vodka you may hear a certain discontent being
expressed by your Russian friends. ‘why is there
such a bureaucracy in this country?’; ‘why can’t
we fix our roads?’ and why don’t the rich do
more for their country?’. It is only natural in such A Russian winter
a discussion to add some views of your own and
contribute some criticism you have to add about Russia. But the moment you do this, do not be
surprised if silence descends over the kitchen table and your Russian friends turn to you in indignation. It is like a husband complaining about his wife to his neighbor. He can tell his neighbor all
about her shortcomings, but the moment his neighbor agrees and adds some more shortcomings
on his own initiative, an invisible line is crossed and an insult is inflicted. With Russians and Russia,
it is the same. They can complain about all they think is wrong in Russia, but as soon as a foreigner
attempts to chime in, the Russian pride gets hurt. No matter what a Russian says about Russia,
he always has a very strong sense of pride when it concerns the Russian people, soul or soil. You
always need to be aware of the Russian pride, especially, when telling a Russian that you – or
“we in the West” - know how to do something better. Apart from the fact that this is not always
true, you are guaranteed that Russia’s doors will remain closed to you by doing so. If you want
to convince a Russian colleague or business partner about a better technology or method, or way
to do something, it is best to expose him to this method or technology and to let him come to a
conclusion on his own. And if ever in doubt, just remember that with respect, you can never go
wrong and that all that Russia requires from the outside world is to be taken seriously.
Luzhniki – Moscow
to sleep in one room! It is a great opportunity
for children to get a basic knowledge of the
language.
a. British Consulate-General Kindergarten
Address; British Consulate Proletarskoy
Diktatory Square 5
Telephone: +7 921 88 11 207
[email protected]
b. International Kindergarten
Preschool to the International Language Academy (ILA)
Address: Nalichnaya Street 34, Vasilevskiy
Island
Telephone: +7 (812) 356-8348
Website: www.ilanew.spb.ru
Based on the British National Curriculum, takes
children from 2 to 7 years old
c. International Preschool
Address: Furshtatskaya Street (opposite the
American Consulate)
Telephone: 8 921 977 15 61
d. P’tit CREF (French kindergarten)
Address: Chernoshevskogo prospect 2
Telephone: +7 (812) 579-57-63 and +7(812)
579-59-21
email: [email protected]
Website: www.ptitcref.ru
e. Montessori
Located on Vaselievskiy Island
Telephone: +7 (812) 3356-3446
or +7 921 970 05 05
Email: [email protected]
f. Finnish Kindergarten
Telephone: +7 911 909 76 69
FOREIGN AND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
a. The Anglo-American School of St Petersburg
Address: Penkovaya Street 5
Telephone: +7 (812) 320-8925
Website: www.aas.ru
b. Finnish School
Telephone: +7 921 967 35 48
and +7 (812) 633-0607
Website: www.peda.net/veraja/piesko
RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
a. Derzhavin Institute
Telephone: +7 (812) 740-1925 or 740-1926
[email protected]
Website: www.derzhavin.com
b. Language link Herzen at the Pedagogical
University
Address: Kazanskaya Street 5
Telephone: +7 (812) 571-3948
Website: [email protected]
c. Zlatoust
Address: Kamennoostrovskiy Prospect 24/25
Telephone: +7 (812) 703-1176
[email protected]
Website: http://www.zlat-edu.ru/page62.html
d. Linden & Denz
Address: Transportniy per. 11 (4th floor)
Telephone: +7 (812) 334-0788
Website: www.lidenz.ru
e. Private Russian Lessons
Contact person: Nicholai Karmishenskiy
Telephone: +7 921 752-7838
MEDICAL AND DENTAL
a. American Medical Center
Address: Moika Embankment 78
Telephone: +7 (812) 740 20 90
www.amclinic.ru (English)
b. MEDEM International clinic
Address: Marata Street 6
Telephone: +7 (812) 336-3333
Website: www.medem.ru (almost all European
languages)
c. Euromed
Address: Suvorovskiy Prospect 60
43
Website: www.mntk.spb.ru
PHARMACIES
a. Homeopathic Pharmacy
Address: Nevskiy prospekt 50, metro Gostiniy
Dvor
Telephone: +7 (812) 571-4498
It’s open from 9 am to 10 pm
VETS AND PETS
Petersgof
Telephone: (812) 327-0301
Website: www.euromad.ru (English, Finnish)
d. Dental Palace
Address: Petropavlovskaya Street (Petrogradskaya Side)
Telephone: +7 (812) 325-7500
This place has friendly staff and offers all possible dental treatment including orthodontic
and children’s dental care. Some of the staff
speaks English and Finish.
e. Medi
Address: Nevskiy prospect 82
Telephone: +7 (812) 777-0000
Website: www.emedi.ru
This is a network of clinics located in all city
districts. They offer all types of dental work
including unique cases.
OPTICIANS
a. Veterinary Station
Address: Ligovskiy Prospect 291
Telephone: 8 901 302-3486
Very good vet station; here you can obtain
travel documents for pets (Russian only).
b. Vet clinic
Address: Chepaeva Street 16a (Petrogradskaya)
Telephone: +7 (812) 232-5592
They attend to all animals. Do not do home
visits, but you can call to book an appointment.
c. Vet Oxanna
Address: Enzhinernaya Street 6
Telephone: +7 (812) 570-5659 or 714-5580
Russian only – will do home visits.
d. Lutchie Druziya
Address: Novoizmailovskiy Prospect 51
Telephone: +7 (812) 370-9120
Tatiana Pavlovna
Website: www.zoosalon.narod.ru
a. Eksimer Eye Clinic:
Address: Apraksin Pereylok 6
Telephone: +7 (812) 325-5535
This clinic offers full diagnostics and laser eye
correction. Some staff speak a little English.
INTERNET SITES
Fedorov Eye Clinic
(IR&TC “EYE MICROSURGERY” named after
S.N.Fyodorov)
Address: Yaroslav Gashek Street 21
Telephone: +7 (812) 771-1616 (9am -5pm)
Information Bureau (registration for consultations, registration for planned operations)
BEAUTY
44
www.rbcnews.com provides news and
announcements about Russia
www.interfax.ru news agency
a. Rive Gauche
This chain has outlets all over St. Petersburg
including Nevskiy 81 and Nevskiy 90.
They have a large stock of well known cosmetics.
b. L’Occitane
Address:
i. Nevskiy 25
Telephone: +7 (812) 326-2620
ii Savushkina 126
iii Effimova 3
Telephone:(812) 335-9370
L’Occitane shops are also situated in both
Mega Parnas and Maga Dybenko.
Cosmetics from Biologique Recherche – Paris,
spa, hair, manicure and pedicure, massage etc.
LOCAL MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS AND BOOKS
■
■
■
The St Petersburg Times, which is also available on line www.stpetersburgtimes.com;
The Russia Journal, www.Russiajournal.com;
'Where' and ‘In Your Pocket’ www.spb.
inyourpocket.com magazines can be found
free of charge in most major hotels, many
central fitness clubs, supermarkets, cafes
and restaurants and are in English;
The 'Traveller's Yellow Pages', available in
large bookshops and online www.infoservices.com . It is not just a phone book, but
contains theatre plans, airport plans, clothing sizes and much more.
c. Irina Anderson
Address: Fontanka 17
Telephone: +7 (812) 570-6327
Website: www.pilotideas.com
Hair, manicure and pedicure. Friendly English
speaking staff - book in advance.
■
d. Posolstvo Krasoti (The Embassy of Beauty!)
Address: Chaikovskogo Street 38/9
Telephone: +7 (812) 275-9053 or 273-5365
Website: www.beauty-spa.ru
SHOPPING
a. There are 2 huge MEGA malls situated on
the outskirts of St. Petersburg.
Website: www.megamall.ru (Russian and English)
Shops include:
■ Auchan (supermarket)
■ IKEA
■ OBI (DIY)
■ Media Markt (Electrical goods)
b. Gostiniy Dvor (Гостиный Двор)
Address: Nevskiy 35 Open from 10 am – 10 pm
Telephone: +7 (812) 710-5200
c. Furniture
IKEA (ИКЕА)
Mega Dybenko Telephone: +7 (812) 332-0055
Mega Parnas Telephone: +7 (812) 332-2252
www.ikea.com
Mebel City (furniture city) (Мебель Сити)
Open weekdays and Saturday 11am to 7 pm;
Sunday 11am to 5pm
Address:
i Prospect Prosveshenia 27
Telephone: +7 (812) 296-1808
ii Prospect Prosveshenia 68
Telephone: +7 (812) 558-7789
FOOD
a. METRO (МЕТРО)
www.metro-cc.ru (see website for most convenient location)
b. ‘OK’ (ОКЕЙ)
These numerous supermarkets are open 24
hours and have a
wide variety of quality food stuff. Payment can
be made by cash or credit card. They have a
children’s play area.
Website: www.okmarket.ru (see website for
most convenient location)
CD'S, DVD'S AND VIDEOS
a. Play
Address: Nevskiy 51 and Karavannaya 1
Website: www.play-sistem.ru
Probably the best selection of films; also, great
music collection.
46
Church of our Savior on the Blood – St. Petersburg
b. Titanik (Титаник)
Has many outlets including Nevskiy 63 and 158
Website: www.titanik-spb.ru
The Open World
Address: Malaya Morskaya Street 13
Telephone: +7 (812) 715-8938
One of the best shops for classical music lovers.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
a. M.Video (M.Видео)
Many locations round the city – see their website for the most convenient one for you
Website: www.mvideo.ru (available in Russian
and English)
b. Technosila (Техносила)
Many locations round the city – see their website for the most convenient one for you
Website: www.technosila.ru (Russian)
BOOKS
Several shops that sell foreign language books:
a. The John Parsons Bookshop
Telephone: +7 (812) 331-8828
www.centercom.ru
Probably the best collection of books in English
in St. Petersburg. Books not in stock can be
ordered through them and you can pick them
up in 2 months.
47
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia: SUPERstitions and Tfu tfu tfu…
The satellite and the space rocket, the first nuclear power plant, Mendeleev’s Periodic Table and
the first electric tram. Russia’s status as one of the world leaders in science and technological
inventions dates back to, at least, the 19th century. Russia is also well known for its academic
prowess and for having one of the highest literacy rates in the world. But in spite of Russia’s
impressive academic and technological credentials, daily life in the 21st century is still very much
ruled by superstitions.
Russia is a very emotional country and in many ways, Russians consciously choose the emotional and superstitious over the rational in life. I have to admit that after 16 years in Russia, I have
also started to adapt my daily life according to a number of these superstitions, although I was
once born as a rational and level-headed Dutchman.
There are superstitions that deal with luck, money, relationships and marriage, as well as
drinking, quite obviously, and many other things in life. Some of them are hard not to notice. For
example, whistling will cause money problems and any Russian will immediately urge you to stop
whistling. Shaking hands, kissing, hugging or greeting someone across the doorway should also
be avoided at all cost! When the threshold of a doorway divides people during a greeting, it will
bring about a quarrel.
Ladies, don’t put your bag on the floor because that also means you will not have money! And
by the way, to those ladies who are not yet married, after you have taken care of your bag, don’t
sit down at the table facing the table’s corner or you will stay unmarried for seven years!
If by accident you step on a Russian’s foot, don’t be surprised if he or she will step on your foot
in return. This is done to avoid a quarrel that would have otherwise surely materialised.
When giving flowers, always make sure to give an uneven number of flowers, unless it is for
a funeral, where an even number of flowers is given. And if you want to break up with a lover,
then giving yellow flowers is a fail-proof method to cause an argument and end the relationship.
If your nose itches you, better be aware as
you will have a drink (see the previous article
on Vodka drinking), get into a fight or fall in love.
And if the itch leads to a sneeze, while you were
saying something then what you were saying,
or your last thought, can’t be anything but the
truth. If, however, your ears itch, have a look
around the office, because someone is saying
bad things about you.
If you have forgotten something, and have to
return home after having closed the door behind
you, bad luck awaits you. However, this situation
can be averted by looking in the mirror, before
Russian traditional hohloma design
leaving your home the second time. But make sure the mirror isn’t broken! If you leave on a big
trip you will need to sit down (preferably on top of your suitcase) before leaving and be silent for
a moment. Also a drink is often drunk ‘na pososhok’ (one for the road) in order to guarantee a safe
trip. However, bearing in mind that the average Russian usually doesn’t limit himself to “one” for
the road, this habit may actually increase and not decrease the risks of the trip.
If you have bought something new (from a pair of shoes to a car or a house) you need to
‘obmiyvat’ (wash it over) by – what a surprise! - drinking something alcoholic. In the case of a pair
of shoes, this can be a glass of champagne. But in the case of a car, this can involve some more
extensive drinking (please refer to the previous article on Vodka drinking). This prevents the item
from getting damaged or stolen and ensures that the item serves you well. It is not known if the
amount of alcohol consumed is directly proportional to the amount of protection provided, but
Russians tend to drink more than enough, just to be on the safe side. As a result, the cost related
to the drinking often exceeds the value of the purchase.
One of the scariest superstitions is the ‘Sglaz’, comparable to the ‘evil eye’ or the ‘malocchio’.
The Sglaz is a negative influence of one person on another on an energetic level. A Sglaz can happen consciously and subconsciously. Causes for the Sglaz are usually jealousy, egoism and greed.
A very strong Sglaz is like a curse. Some of the symptoms of a Sglaz are laziness, sleepiness,
irritation, bad luck and regular nose colds. But then again, if one were to go by this superstition,
then every second expatriate and just about every Russian suffers those symptoms (one Russian
friend suggested you get the Sglaz automatically, at passport control in Sheremetyevo international airport), so maybe the Sglaz is not so dangerous after all. More importantly, never wish a
Russian good luck; this may also invoke the evil eye (shtob ne sglazit). It is better to wish someone
‘neither down nor feathers’ (ni pukha ni pera); this started as a hunter's ritual, meaning may he
return unsuccessful. The appropriate response to this is ‘go to the devil’ or ‘go to hell’ (k Tchortu).
Also gifts are not given before a person’s birthday.
And if, in this labyrinth of dangers, you ever feel lonely, then know that a whole army of creatures accompanies your every move. First of all you have a Guardian Angel (Angel Khranitel) standing on your right shoulder. The nemesis of your Guardian Angel is the Devil (Tchort) who is lounging
on your left shoulder. Is there something you think you misplaced in your apartment or you can’t
light a match? Then that is your Domovoi at play. Your Domovoi is like a good house spirit (imagine
something like a gnome or troll); although he protects the house and its occupants, he can sometimes be a little mischievous and break stuff or hide your keys. Most likely, when you have to return
home to pick up something you forgot, it is your Domevoi at play and he will be laughing, while
you look into the mirror to ward off the bad luck before you leave your home the second time.
Ever saw a Russian spitting over the left shoulder and emitting a sound that goes something
like ’tfu tfu tfu’? Remember this and learn to copy the gesture and sound! This is the antidote for
all the bad stuff that can possibly happen to you and if you want to get through your stay in Russia
in one piece, the ‘tfu tfu tfu’ will serve you better than a Lloyd’s insurance policy. And why spit
over the ‘left’ shoulder? That is where your Tchort was lounging about of course!
A book could be written about Russian superstitions, but this short article should get you
through your first year in Russia. The rest you will find out along the way, with a little help by
your Guardian Angel.
(Oh and by the way, beware of the woman with the empty buckets......!!)
a. Sytniy Rynok
(closed every 4th Monday of the month)
Address: Sytninskaya Ploshad 3/5
Telephone: +7 (812) 233-2293
This was the first market in St Petersburg; it
was located on Trinity square. In 1711 it was
moved to its present location, which is the
outskirts of town.
b. Kuznechniy Rynok
(Closed every 2nd Monday of the month)
Address: Kuznechniy Periolok 3 (Vladimirskaya
metro – behind the church)
Telephone +7 (812) 312-4161
This is the best meat and produce market,
used by many of the city’s restaurant.
c. Maltevskiy Rynok
Address: Nekrasova Street 52
Telephone: +7 (812) 272-3350
The gryphon (griffin) - St. Petersburg
b. Anglia Bookshop
Telephone: +7 (812) 579-8284
c. Dom Knigi (Дом книги) – Zinger’s House
Address: Nevskiy Prospect 28
Telephone: +7 (812) 312-5710
Beautiful old shop that has undergone renovation in the last few years. It not only sells
books in Russian, English, French and German,
but also stationery and has a little cafe with a
great view.
d. Bukvoyed (Буквоед)
Many locations around the city including:
Nevskiy Prospect 13
Telephone: +7 (812) 601-0601
They offer a smaller collection than the other
shops, but at better prices!
MARKETS
The markets tend to be expensive, but offer
quite an experience. If you become a regular
customer of a particular stall holder, you will
get a better deal and fresher produce!
50
d. Sennoy Rynok
Address: Moskovskiy Prospect 4a
Telephone: +7 (812) 310-1209
e. Vasiloestrovskiy Rynok (Closed every 1st
Monday of the month)
Address: Bolshoi Prospect 16 (Vasiloestrrovskiy Ostrov)
Telephone: +7 (812) 323-6687
Cheap but not so well stocked
f. Pet Market
Polyustrovskiy or Kondratievskiy Rynok
(Closed every 3rd Monday of the month)
Address:Polyustrovsky Prospect 45
Telephone: +7 (812) 540-3039
g. Art Market
It is located right in front of St Catherine of
Alexandria Church on Nevskiy 32-34.
Open every day and consists of open-air
stands, where artists display their paintings.
h. General Market
Yunona Rynok (Рынок ЮНОНА)
Address: Marshala Kazakova 40.
Website: www.spb.unona.ru
Very large market selling everything from CDs
(none of which are original copies) to clothes and
electrical items. On Saturdays, it also has a huge
flea market selling anything and everything!
WOMEN’S GROUPS AND FAMILY INFORMATION
a. International Women's Club (IWC)
The IWC invites members of every nationality.
They have regular meetings, lots of clubs and
social events. The IWC is a good way to get to
know St Petersburg using the experiences of
other foreign women. They also have several
fund raising events and support various children’s charities in St Petersburg.
Website: www.iwcstpete.com
b. American Women's Organisation (AWO)
The AWO is a Moscow group that many may
find useful. Full AWO membership is open to
American women living in Moscow and to nonAmerican wives of Americans. The AWO also
welcomes women of other nationalities who
Restaurants
Name
Type Cuisine $$
Location - Contact
Comments
Fiolet
Oriental –
Fusion $$
Lomonosovskaya
Square 6
Tel: +7 (812) 713-5207
Very good food and service. Informal and formal style. Booking recommended.
Ryba
Italian $$
Academica Pavlova Str. 5
Tel: +7 (812) 234-5060
Excellent pasta dishes and fresh
fish. Informal atmosphere.
Chin Chin
Oriental /
European
$$
Mytninskaya Emb. 3
Tel: +7 (812) 232-1042
Small restaurant with good service
Mops
Thai $$
Pushkinskaya Street 12
Tel: +7 (812) 572-3834
Only Thai in St Pet. Cafe area and
restaurant area. Good authentic
Thai food.
Tamozheniy per. 1
Tel: +7 (812) 331-9612
Excellent food and wine. Probably
the best in St Petersburg
Old Customs House European
$$$$
Dve Palochki
Japanese $$ Various
Reasonable prices and fresh.
Service hit and miss!
Bistrot Garcon
French $$$ Nevskyi Prospect 95
Tel: +7 (812) 717-2467
Good, authentic French food –
breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Stolle Cafe
Russian
Excellent piroshki (pies) both
savoury and sweet. Very simple
concept – counter service.
Can order take out large Piroshki
(Pies).
Konushenniy per. 1/6,
1 Linya V.O. 50
Dekabristov Str. 19 and 33
www.stolle.ru
Borsalinos
Italian $$$$ Malaya Morskaya 24
(Angleterre Hotel)
Excellent Italian food. Good bar
with live jazz.
Fasol
European/
Russian $$
Informal atmosphere, reasonable
prices.
SADKO
Russian $$$ Glinki Street 2
Tel: +7 (812) 920-8228
Gorokhovaya Str. 17/56
Tel: +7 (812) 571-7454
Russian food, well cooked and
good service.
51
d. Maxi Sport
Address: Hotel Pribaltiyskaya Vasilevskiy Island
Telephone: +7 (812) 448-0488
Website: www.waterville.ru
CULTURAL EVENTS
A cathedral in St. Petersburg
are not married to Americans, as non-voting
associate members. Please check the Moscow
Times for details.
[email protected]
c. St. Petersburg Women Entrepreneurs
English speaking foreign and Russian women
meet once a month to exchange and discuss
ideas with regard to development and socialise.
SPA, WELLNESS AND FITNESS CLUBS
a. World Class
Address: Efimova Street 4a
Telephone: +7 (812) 313-0000
Website: www.wclass.ru (Russian)
b. Planet Fitness
Many locations throughout St. Petersburg
including
Kazanskaya Street 37
Telephone: +7 (812) 315-6220 or 315-7175
Grand Hotel Europe
Telephone: +7 (812) 329-6000 or 329-6597
Petrogradskaya embankment 18
Telephone: +7 (812) 332-0000
Website: www.fitness.ru (English)
c. Flying Dutchman
Address: Mitninskaya Embankment
(on a boat!)
Telephone: +7 (812) 336-3737
Website: www.gollandec.ru
52
Information about the times and locations of
cultural events can be found on-line at www.
weekend.ru, www.afisha.ru or www.inyourpocket.com or in ticket offices at various
locations all over St Petersburg, including the
central ticket office on Nevskiy Prospect 42.
Telephone: +7 (812) 571-3183.
The St. Petersburg Times also has listings of
coming events.
OPERA AND BALLET
a. The Mariinskiy Theatre (Kirov)
Address: Teatralnaya Square
Telephone: +7 (812) 326-4141
Website: www.mariinsky.ru
b. The Hermitage Theatre
Address: Dvortsovaya Embankment 34
Telephone: +7 (812) 710-9030
c. Shostakovich Philarmonia
Address: Mikhailovskaya Street 2
Telephone: +7 (812) 710-4257 or 710-4290
Website: www.philharmonia.spb.ru
Famous conductor Yuri Temirkanov presents
some of the very best festivals and concerts in
St Petersburg – 2 halls, Bolshoy Zal (Great Hall)
and Maliy Zal (small Hall) Nevskiy 30
Telephone: +7 (812) 311-8333
d. Mussorsky (Mikhailovsky) Opera and Ballet
Address: Iskusstva Square 1
Telephone: +7 (812) 545-4284
Website: www.mikhailovsky.ru
Not as grand as the Mariinskiy but some nice
performances.
e. Yusupov Palace Theatre
Address: Moika Embankment 94
Telephone: +7 (812) 314-9883
f. Jazz Philharmonic
Address: Zagorodniy Prospect 27
Telephone: +7 (812) 764-8565
This well known venue has 2 bands – straight
jazz and Dixieland; also, many guest/foreign
bands. Concerts are every evening starting
at 7pm.
g. JFC Jazz
Address: Shpalernaya 33
Telephone: +7 (812) 272-9850
Very good small club, with jazz, blues and folk
bands including many guest/foreign bands.
CINEMAS
Although it is possible to see all the latest
American and European films, they are usually
dubbed into Russian. Occasionally, they are in
the original language, with Russian subtitles.
Check the St. Petersburg Times. Below are
some of the better cinemas, but for a list of
all possible venues, please visit the website:
www.spb.timeout.ru/place/list/cinema/
a. Avrora
Telephone: +7 (812) 315-5254
Website: www.avrora.spb.ru
b. Crystal Palace
Website: www.cp.spb.ru
c. Dom Kino
Address: Karavannaya Street 12
Telephone: +7 (812) 314-5614 or 314-0638
Website: www.domkino.spb.ru
d. Mirage
Address: Petrogradskaya, Bolshoi Prospect 35
Telephone: +7 (812) 498-0563
Website: www.mirage.ru
CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT
a. St. Petersburg Bolshoi (Big) Theatre Of
Puppets
Address: Nekrasova Street 10
Telephone: +7 (812) 273-6672
b. Circus
Address: Fontanka 3
Telephone: +7 (812) 570-5411
Website: www.circus.spb.ru
b. Children’s Philharmonia
Address: Bolshoy Sampsonievskiy Prospect 79
Telephone: +7 (812) 245-4267
c. Children’s Music Theatre
Address: Rubinshteina 3
Telephone: (812) 316-5480
Website: www.zazerkal.spb.ru
d. Upsala Circus
Performances at various venues around
St. Petersburg
Telephone: +7 963 320-1159
Website: www.upsala-zirk.org (Russian,
English and German)
e. Dolphinarium
Address: Konstantinovskiy Prospect 19
(Krestovskiy Island)
Telephone: +7 (812) 235-4631
If you have any questions regarding real estate
or relocation issues in St. Petersburg, please,
do not hesitate to contact us in Moscow:
8 (495) 502 9553
Irina Yakimenko
Head of Intermark Relocation
Irina joined Intermark in 2006.
In this role, Irina ensures the
provision of professional relocation and immigration services and efficiency
of expatriate management. Irina also manages
Intermark Relocation's expansion into Russia
and strives for constant diversification and
evolution of the company's services. Born in
Moscow, multi-lingual and having been an
expatriate herself, Irina knows what an expatriate goes through and what it's like to live in
Moscow and move to Russia.
53
Isaac's Cathedral - St. Petersburg
A Review of the St.Petersburg rental
market in 2010
General Dynamics of the Rental
Market
In 2010, the cost of the elite real estate stopped
falling; the market became stable. From January to mid February, 2010, the market situation was marked by the traditional seasonal
recession during the winter holidays and in the
post-holiday period. An increase in the demand
for real estate in the corporate segment was
observed starting from mid February, 2010;
most requests came in from medium-size and
large companies. Peak demand was reached by
the middle of May, 2010; this period was noted
for the highest quantity of rental transactions.
When compared to rental rates as at the
end of December, 2009, there were no considerable changes in rental rates throughout
the 1st half of 2010. On the whole, for the halfyear, rental rates increased by 5 to 10 %, but it
is noteworthy that the increase mainly referred
to marketable residential property objects.
The inconsiderable growth in rental rates
in May was caused by fluctuations of currency
rates (euro exchange rate in relation to rouble
had been going down since February, 2010,
54
and in May, 2010, it reached its minimum for
the 1st half-year of 2010 – 37,420 roubles). Such
increase in rental rates only reflected their correction in relation to euro-currency, and not
changes in the market cost of property objects.
Insignificant price fluctuations in 2010 were
caused both by seasonal changes in the supply
and demand structure, and the adaptation to
the situation in the world currency markets,
but not by internal structural changes of market conditions.
Tendencies of the rental market
of elite residential property
in St. Petersburg in 2010
1. Supply and demand decentralisation in the
market of corporate residential property rent.
Due to the formation of two new industrial
zones in the south (factories of such large industrial companies as General Motors, Philip Morris,
Toyota, Bosh and Siemens) and in the northwest
of St. Petersburg (automobile cluster, presented
by such large motor-car manufacturers as Nissan, Magna Cosma International, Hyundai, Suzuki
etc.), apart from the traditional demand for the
elite apartments located in the central districts
of the city, a growing demand for business-class
apartments located in new residential complexes in the south and the north of the city was
observed. For many employees of the above
mentioned companies, residing in close vicinity
to the office, allowed them to minimise time
spent on transportation, without prejudice to
the quality of residing conditions. Meeting these
requirements becomes possible due to active
and infill real estate development in the northern
and southern districts respectively.
2. Amid the receding economic crisis, the
largest international industrial companies still
remain the main tenants of elite apartments.
In the general structure of requests, the share
of requests from small and medium-size businesses, as well as individual entities, was
rather insignificant.
3. Corporate clients are very much concerned
about choosing the right professional real estate
agent as it guarantees better terms and service
with regard to obtaining an elite apartment,
as well as beneficial lease conditions and the
maximum protection of the tenant’s interests.
4. The rental market still has strongly pronounced characteristics of a “tenant’s market”,
with its inherent features: exclusive requirements of the tenant to an apartment and lease
conditions, flexibility of the landlord in terms
of price setting (frequent mark-down of the
rental rate by 10%, from the declared rate during the negotiating process) and implementation of improvements in the rented apartment.
5. In comparison with the 1st half-year of
2009, the year 2010 showed a general revival
in the market of the elite residential property
rentals, manifested itself in the growth of the
quantity of inquiries, stop in the landslide of
rental prices and even some growth in rental
rates (5 to 10 %), which testifies to the fact
that there is a gradual normalisation of the
market, with the supply and demand equation
gradually reaching a balance point.
56
Geography of the Offered Elite Objects
Among the areas still in high demand are the
Central area of St. Petersburg, with its wellknown “golden triangle”, including the Nevsky
Prospect, with such streets as Italianskaya,
Karavannaya, Millionnaya, Malaya Konjushennaya, etc., and part of the Admiralteyskiy area.
Of particular interest to clients are the elite
apartments with an all-around view over the
Moyka River, the Fontanka, the Griboedov's
channel, as well as the Petrogradsky area,
including Krestovsky and Kamenny islands.
The current lack of new housing development projects in the historical city-center
has led to a very high demand for the newly
built elite houses, such as, for example, “Le
Grand” house (152, Nevskiy Prospect), block
of apartments developed by “Renaissance
of St.-Petersburg” corporation (137, Nevskiy
Prospect), club houses on the quay of the
Fontanka river (house 1) and building No 12 on
Italianskaya street.
Residential developments in Petrogradsky
area and the Krestovsky Island, in particular,
still remain especially attractive. The main
reason for this is convenient location and
ecologically-friendly conditions of residing on
the island. Kamenniy Island remains the most
closed, private territory of the Petrogradsky
area. Thus, offers on elite apartments on the
Kamenniy Island are unique.
In 2010, 80-150 sq.m. elite apartments
within the Central area of St.-Petersburg,
located in newly-built houses with developed
infrastructure and in reconstructed historical
residential buildings and a modern access control system were in great demand.
Marina Markarova
Managing partner — General
Director of the consulting real
estate company MAYFAIR
Properties.
Sahalin
The Sakhalin region was founded on the 2nd
of January, 1947.
It includes the Sakhalin and bordering islands
and the Kuril islands.
The Sakhalin Region is a part of the Far East
Federal District.
Territory - 87,1 thousand sq. km.
The population 608,000
The regional centre – Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
Geography
Sakhalin is one of the largest islands in Russia.
Washed by the Okhotsk and Japanese seas, the
island stretches 948 km, from North to South.
The coastline is slightly indented. Nearly two
thirds of the Sakhalin area is mountainous. The
Lopatin mountain is the highest, at 1.609 m.
The Northern part of the island is a swampy
plain, covered with deciduous taiga. Mountains
of the central and southern parts of the island
are covered with forests of Ayan spruce, fir
58
and birch. The undergrowth is of dwarf Siberian pine, and Kuril bamboo. The usual forest
inhabitants are bear, marten, wolverine, sable,
squirrel, Northern deer, musk deer and adder.
There are two mud volcanoes and more than
sixty thousand rivers and streams, the largest
of which are the Tym and Poronai Rivers. The
lakes number about 16,120. The largest among
them are the lagoon lakes, Tunaicha (174 sq
km) and Nevskoye (178 sq km). The climate is
moderate-monsoon. Average January temperatures range from -6°C in the South to -24°C
in the North of the island. The average temperature in August is +19°C in the South and
+ 10°C in the North. The Kuril Islands stretch
from north to south for 1,200 km. Their total
area is nearly 15.6 thousand square kilometers.
Among the islands of the Kuril archipelago are
30 large islands; more than 20 small islands
are of volcanic origin. The highest waterfall in
Russia, Ilija Muromets, is located on the Iturup
Island and is 141 m. high. The climate of the
Kuril Islands is typically marine-like, without
strong frosts or extensive summer heat. Rain
and fog are quite frequent in the summer.
and commercial aquaculture industries, thrive
in these waters.
Mineral resources
Historical remark
the Sakhalin region, in its present form, was
officially defined and integrated as a part of
the Russian Federation on January 2nd, 1947.
The region lies off the eastern coastline of
mainland Russia and includes the island of
Sakhalin, the islands of Tyulenyi and Moneron
and the Kuril Islands.
The region is separated into 17 administrative districts. There are 19 towns and 33
urban-type settlements.
Important cities
and towns are: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Kholmsk,
Korsakov, Okha, Poronaisk, AlexandrovskSakhalinsky, Nevelsk, Uglegorsk, and Dolinsk.
The Sakhalin Region existed in various forms,
prior to 1947:
From 1909 to 1914 the Sakhalin region comprised of the northern part of the Sakhalin
Island;
■ From 1914 to 1920 it also included the Udskyi
district and the city of Nikolaevsk-on-Amur;
■ On October 20th, 1932 the Northern part of
the Sakhalin region was merged with that of
the Far East;
■ Since 1938 has been part of the Khabarovsk
Territory.
On January 2nd, 1947, South Sakhalin and
the Kuril Islands were made part of the Sakhalin region. Simultaneously, the region was designated as a separate territory of the Russian
Federation.
■
Petroleum: The are 112 deposits. Sakhalin oil
is suitable for the production of high-octane
fuel and lubricating oil. The condensate is suitable for manufacturing diesel fuel, petrol and
aircraft kerosene.
Coal: There are 60 deposits of coal. The
grades of coal in these deposits vary, with the
coal used as high-quality power fuel being the
predominant grade . Other grades are suitable
for chemical processing and reception of fuel oil.
Peat: There are 200 deposits. Peat is used as a
constituent in fertilisers, heat-insulating material. It is also used for the absorption in water
and soil of pollutants resulting from petroleum
products.
Timber resources
Most of the Sakhalin island, is located in the
taiga zone and is covered in forest. The forests
of the Sakhalin region occupy 6.9 million hectares, which is 87 % of the territory. Coniferous
forests are prevalent. The silver firs and white
woods produce valuable softwood. Sakhalin is
one of the economic leaders in timber resources of the Russian Far East.
Natural resources
Marine resources
The area where the seas wash the coast of the
Sakhalin and Kuril Islands is among the most
economically viable in the world. This basin is
Russia’s largest fishing ground. Many species
of fish, which are of great value to the food
The streets of Sakhalin
59
Sakhalin
Transport
тransport is one of the main segments in the
economic complex of the Sakhalin region. The
transport branch is comprised of all types of
transport: sea, railway, motor and air.
The sea transport is the main means of
transportation in the region. The region has
eleven seaports. There are eight sea trade
ports located in Kholmsk, Korsakov, Alexandrovsk, Poronaisk, Uglegorsk, Shakhtyorsk,
Boshnyakovo, and Krasnogorsk. There are two
sea fish ports in Kholmsk, and Nevelsk and
one departmental seaport at Moskalvo, which
belongs to JSC “Posneft-Sakhalinmorneftegaz”.
The railway transportation accounts for
about 30% of all transportation related activity
within Sakhalin.
Sakhalin has railway lines stretching from
Nogliki in the north to Korsakov in the south.
There is also a departmental narrow-gauge
line at Nogliki - Okha extending 228 kms; it
belongs to JSC “Rosneft-Sakhalinmorneftegaz”.
The main function of air transport is to
carry passengers over long distances and in
most cases, to places which can not be easily
accessed by other means of transportation.
There are regular flights from Sakhalin to Moscow, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok and other cities
of Russian Federation. The Yuzhno-Sakha-
60
linsk airport plays a vital role in facilitating
transportation Sakhalin. In addition to local
flights, there are regularly scheduled international flights to Hakodate ( Japan), Seoul, Pusan
(Korea), as well as charter flights to Niigata,
Tokyo, Sapporo ( Japan), Dalian, Kharbin and
Shanghai (China).
Sakhalin companies
There are several companies operating in
various economic spheres within the Sakhalin
region:
Oil & Gas
DRC Sakhalin Group drcsakhalin.com
Liebherr www liebherr.com
Sakhalin Energy www.sakhalinenergy.com
Schlumberger www.slb.com
Production
Inter-Energy www.inter-energy.ru
Sakhalin Energo www.sahen.elektra.ru
Sakhalin Machinery, LLC
www. sakhalinmachinery.ru
SDM Sakhalin (the official Hyundai dealer)
www.thgr.ru
Telecommunications
Beeline www. skh.beeline.ru
Dal sviaz www.skh.dsv.ru
MegaFon www.dv.megafon.ru
MTS www.sakh.mts.ru
NTK www.vntc.ru
Services
Coleman Services www.coleman.ru
Kapital Insurance www.ifdk-insurance.ru
Sakhalin Engineering www.edem.su
Swift worldwide resources
www.swiftoilandgas.com
Finance
Alfa Bank alfa-bank.ru
ATB www.atb.su
Royal Haskoning www.royalhaskoning.com
VTB www.vtb.ru
…..and many others
Places to visit
Sakhalin local lore museum
The museum was founded in 1896. Since 1947,
the museum has been located in YuzhnoSakhalinsk, in a building belonging to the former Japanese governor Karafuto. The building
was constructed in 1937. The museum collections cover the period from the most ancient
history up to nowadays: archeologic, ethnographic, historical, paleontological, geological,
botanical, zoological and others.
Sakhalin regional art museum
The museum is located in a building formerly
belonging to the Japanese bank “Hokkaido
Takuseku”. This building is an original architectural monument that was erected at the
beginning of the 1930s. In the 80s, it was
reconstructed and converted into a museum.
The regional artworks are exhibited in the big
hall on the ground floor. The first floor has
been let out for the organisation of frequent
expositions: “Old Russian art”, “Art of Japan”,
“Art of Korea”.
62
Sakhalin
Lake Tunajcha
This is the largest and most beautiful of the
Sakhalin lakes.
There are many other unique features
within the Sakhalin region. This includes the
island of Moneron, which has been declared a
specially protected area for its unique natural
habitat and the Seal island popular for its rookeries of seals and huge bird markets. In Okha
city boasts of an oil derrick, which was established at the end of the XIX century.
With its unique nature and vast possibilities,
Sakhalin is the perfect place to explore and
invest in.
Alexandra Lubchenko
Alexandra Lubchenko is the
Head of special division, South
Sakhalin
The Coleman Services story
in Russia started in March 1998, when the
company offered search and selection
of permanent personnel. In 1999, it was
one of the first to provide outstaffing – a
completely new service for Russia. In 2001,
Coleman Services opened a specialised
department that provides industrial
enterprises and warehouse complexes with
skilled and unskilled personnel.
Today, Coleman Services provides a full
range of HR- services and offers its services
in Saint Petersburg, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk,
Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Stupino, Obninsk, Tula
and Novosibirsk. Coleman Services also has
vast experience in rendering its services
on a remote basis.
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia: Authority works!
It doesn’t take a long time for newcomers to Russia to understand that to attract the attention of
a waitress in a restaurant, it is not sufficient to look in her direction or raise an arm. The only thing
that gets her attention is to call out loud: “Devushka” (Miss); an action that would get you almost
thrown out of most restaurants in Europe. In the office, you will notice that after having had a long
meeting with your team, during which you thought everything was discussed and agreed upon,
everyone is still looking at you to take the final decisions. In a newspaper, you may read with some
surprise that next to Vladimir Putin, Josef Stalin is the most popular Russian leader of all times.
There is one common denominator to all three situations described above and that is the concept of authority. Authority is important in Russia and a key ingredient for making things work. For
effective leadership in Russia, authority is much more important than consensus, whereas, in most
western countries the exact opp osite is the case. In Russian companies, the director decides on
everything. Very little power or mandate is delegated to lower management levels. In the workplace, the boss is expected to know everything and to carry a paternalistic responsibility for his
employees. Russians in general work harder and longer than most Europeans. The formal nine to
five culture does not exist in Russia. Working until late at night or meetings during the weekend is all
within the normal course of business. But the Russian worker needs to genuinely respect his boss. If
respect is lacking, then it is very hard to motivate a Russian worker to ‘go the extra mile’ and in that
case, no HR process, training or management technique will increase the output of your employees.
For foreign managers in Russia, this means that they need to be more firm and decisive than
they are used to being in other countries. This also means that you should be careful not to lose
the respect of your employees. Losing your cool too often and starting to shout is seen as losing
control, and consequently, leads to a loss of respect. Once respect is lost, it is very hard to regain.
Another proof of the fact that ‘authority works’ in Russia can be seen in traffic or in queues.
You may be surprised that drivers cut right in front of other drivers without any repercussion.
Something that would cause road-rage in Europe and a shoot-out in the USA, is calmly accepted
in Russia. If you want to merge into traffic hesitantly using your turn signal indicator you won’t
get anywhere in Russia. You need to be bold and just cut in. Just try it! You’ll see it works. If you
are afraid to dent your car you can start with the queue at passport control. Just cut in front of the
queue, acting as if you own the place and see what the reaction will be. If you do get a reaction,
next time, try it with more authority!
Being nice and gentle is not yet really understood in Russia. It is often mistaken for weakness.
You can be many things in Russia, but at least you have to be firm and strong. Otherwise you won’t
get anywhere. This is one of the things that is often difficult to understand for newcomers to Russia.
It is not for nothing that Russia knows something called the ‘komandniy golos’ (the commanding voice). It’s the tone of voice you need to use if you want to get something done here. Even
after 16 years in Russia, I find it hard to find the right ‘komandniy golos’. When the ‘banshik’ (stoker or bath attendant) in the Russian banya (bathhouse), where I usually go proposes to increase
the heat and steam, I am usually the first to say ‘khorosh’ (it’s enough, no need to increase). But
no matter how I say it –loudly or softly, with a deep bass – the stoker always continues to increase
the heat. But, if one of the Russians around me says ‘khorosh’ or ‘esho’ (more), this one word is
enough to spring the stoker into action.
Russians and authority, one more aspect of Russia’s unfathomable mystery. And for most of
us foreigners, there is only one conclusion we can come to - ‘if you can’t stand the heat, stay out
of the banya’!
The Summer theatre - Sochi
Sochi – life for an expatriate
Foreign employee, married, with children, not
speaking Russian
Sochi, a city in the Krasnodar region is situated just north of Russia's border with the de facto
republic of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea coast.
It is the largest Russian resort city; 145 km
spanning along the shores of the Black Sea and
against the background of the Caucasus Mountains. In 2006, the population was estimated to
be 395,012.
In addition to being selected to host the
12th Olympic Winter Games and 11th Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, the Russian Formula
1 Grand Prix will also be held in Sochi from
2014 up until at least 2020.
Sochi is a dream city! It can offer that rare
harmony in life, where work is combined
with an eco-lifestyle and precious emotions
we share with family and friends! Purity and
64
timelessness, friendliness and sophistication
heighten the values of Sochi life, enhancing
its rapid transformation into a city that is fully
ready to host the Olympic Games in 2014! Sea
and snow are real ambassadors here and we
invite you to join their powerful inner energy!
Year-round, sun-and-snow resort
Speaking of the climate, one can hardly talk
about four seasons in Sochi. Actually, there are
only two seasons in Sochi – the warm period
from April till November, and a cooler period
from November till April. Sochi’s ‘winter’ is mild,
with no frosts, and the snow makes the palms
look so beautiful and floppy that you can not help
but enjoy it. The warm sea and nearby Main Caucasian Range have formed in this land of Russia a
unique climate of humid subtropics, which is not
typical of this latitude elsewhere on the globe.
Sochi citizens are fond of mountain skiing
and sports in general. The Krasnaya Polyana
ski resort at the foot of the North Caucasus mountain range is the most popular and
famously a favorite ski getaway for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. From December till spring
time , there is plenty of snow here. 600m
above the sea level and 40 km from the coast
make this place a truly unique mix of sea and
mountain. Today, Krasnaya Polyana has many
chalets, hotels, and restaurants; quite soon, it
will offer new luxury facilities for recreation
and different winter sports planned for the
Olympic Games in 2014 that will take place at
Krasnaya Polyana.
There are six thousand species of flowers, trees and shrubs in Sochi. This is the only
Russian city, where palms decorate streets;
the sights of blooming magnolia trees can be
enjoyed only in Sochi!
Sochi people love their environment; they
are kindhearted, attentive and always ready
to welcome people of all nationalities. It is a
very safe city, where traditions of south and
north are equally respected and where people
respond with a smile even when they can not
understand your language. Hospitality and the
desire to show the best of their city are traits
character of all the locals.
art exhibitions and theater performances follow each other; aqua parks and attractions
in the Riviera Park keep the children entertained all through day and night, and fashion
stores demonstrate charm and chic, enhancing
women sensuality. The restaurants, night clubs
and cafes are all just a step away from you. At
the moment, most recreational activities are
accessible to those who speak Russian only;
however, this issue is being addressed right
now by the city’s authorities.
Family accommodation
As part of the effort to cater to the expected
influx of both Russian and foreign wealthy
clientele, Sochi is currently erecting luxury
houses, villas, hotels, shopping centers, hospitals and schools, as well as building new roads.
The end result will make Sochi a must-visit
tourist attraction to all and a home away from
home for expats thinking of relocating to this
wonderful city.
Recreation
Sochi is the perfect place for relaxation and
revitalisation!
Working in Sochi
Sochi has tremendous business potential in the
construction, tourism, sports and recreation
and the agricultural industries. The September
international economic forum usually attracts
thousands of foreign experts and businessmen
to Sochi. Other months of the year do not witness as many foreigners in the city. For foreign
investors, this means that the potential is
huge and opportunities, limitless, to invest in a
growing city and build a multinational society.
Art and Modern Lifestyle
Sochi life is exciting for all family members,
especially during the summer. Concerts with
Russian and international music celebrities,
The Caucasus mountains - Sochi
65
Useful information
Transport
Transportation infrastructure is being prepared
to support the Olympics. This will include more
roads, tunnels, bridges, interchanges, railroads
and stations in and around Sochi.
Airport:
Sochi International Airport: this airport is
located in the Adler District of Sochi.
Website: www.apsochi.ru
Telephone: +7 (8622) 440 088
A new terminal has been built and a 3.5 km
runway extension is being planned. The runway may overlap the Mzymta river.
c. Commuter trains from Adler station (20
minutes south of Sochi http://www.alltrains.
ru/stat.php?code=2064150
Russian Railways is going to establish a highspeed Moscow-Adler link and a new railroad
(more than 60 km long) that will pass by the
Ukrainian territory.
3. Metro
The Sochi Light Metro will be constructed
between Adler and Krasnaya Polyana. It will
connect the Olympic Park, the airport and the
venues in Krasnaya Polyana.
Cars
1. Taxis
Like in most other cities, locals put their hand
out and stop a private car and negotiate a
price. For expats this may have serious safety
issues and is not recommended. Do not get
into a car that has another passenger apart
from the driver.
There are several official taxi companies;
however, bear in mind that these companies
do not have English speaking staff.
Sochi
Railway:
1. Sochi trains
a. Sochi train station
Address: Gorkiy ul., 56, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 609 009
b. Lazarevsky train station
Address: Odoevsky Street, Lazarevsky village,
Russia
Telephoneephone: +7 (8622) 723 544
2. Sochi Elektrichki (commuter trains)
a. Commuter trains from Sochi train station
http://www.alltrains.ru/stat.php?code=
2064130
b. Commuter trains from Lazarevsky station
(city district of Sochi) http://www.alltrains.ru/
stat.php?code=2064030
66
European Taxi
+7 (8622) 34-80-34
Taxi in Sochi
http://www.taxisochi.com/
+7 (963) 163-06-03
2. Buses and Route (Marshrutnoe) Taxis
Buses are the main means of transportation in
Sochi. There are about 100 routes connecting
all parts of the city. During rush hour, they are
particularly crowded. Marshrutnoe taxis are
private vans that drive along specific routes.
Normally, the route number and a list of stops
is located on a placard in the window, but only
in Russian language. Most expatriates will
find it simpler (and relatively inexpensive) to
simply call a taxi.
3. Rent-a-car
Herzt
They have English speaking staff.
Address: Morskoy per, 12, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 35-71-00
Living in Sochi: other useful facts
For those with children
1. Schools
There are no Anglo-American schools in Sochi.
There are however schools with a very strong
English language programme:
Gimnasium # 1 (intensive English studies)
Address: Yunih Lenintsev str, 5/1, Sochi
Telephone.: +7 (8622) 64-69-91
For those who want to learn Russian
Russian language school
Address: The London School, Chaikovskogo str,
43, Sochi
b. Aquarium
Address: Tcheltenkhema alley, 4, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 67-72-26
c. The Zoo
Address: Karla Marksa str, 8, Sochi
Telephone +7 (8622) 44-50-74, 44-52-65
d. Madagaskar
This is a children’s entertainment centre
Address: Kuybysheva str, 36, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 40-80-08
e. Zolotaya Nadezhda
This is a children’s theatre
Address: Teatralnaya str, 2, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 99-77-09
f. Sochi Circus
It is located at the intersection between Pushkin and Kurortniy avenues, in the immediate
proximity to the famous Sochi Arboretum
(Dendrarium).
Health
2. Children’s entertainment
a. Botanic garden
This garden hosts an exclusive collection of
plants.
Address: Kurortniy prospekt., 74, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 62-18-42
It is recommended that you register with a
medical clinic immediately upon arrival. Contact
your medical insurance company for a list of
clinics you can register in. Check how payments
can be made. In an emergency, a clinic should
be your first point of contact, along with your
Sochi
67
Pharmacies
Sochi
medical insurance company. A local hospital
should be your second choice and if you do not
speak Russian, you should certainly be accompanied by a translator. Also, in local hospitals
you will often need to pay cash upfront so
make sure you have enough money with you.
You should make arrangements for both
medical treatment and evacuation insurance.
Always know where your passport is.
Clinics
a. Elisa
Address: Dagomisskaya str., 42A, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 662-777
b. Medical Centre (incl. stomatology)
Address: Donskaya str, 27, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 55-75-66
Opticians
Best optics
Address: Navaginskaya str., 16, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622)642054
68
Most medicines are available in pharmacies
in Sochi. In some cases, prescription drugs,
for example, some classes of antibiotics, may
be procured as over the counter medication
(OTC). However, we recommend that you
visit a doctor to obtain your prescription-onlymedicines. Trade names of drugs may differ
may go by other names and again we suggest
that you seek advice if unsure about these
alternatives.
36,6
This pharmacy has several retail outlets:
Address 1: Morskoy per., 12, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 62-28-66
Address 2:Vorovskogo str., 53
Telephone: +7 (8622) 64-73-64
Address 3:Gagarina, 72
Telephone: +7 (8622) 55-99-98
Veterinary services
a. 4+1 Vet Services
Address: Yasnogorskaya str, 20, Sochi
Telephone +7-8622- 97-86-25
b. Aybolit
Address: Golubie dali str., 20/4,Sochi-Adler
Telephone: +7 (918) 409-33-77
Approximate rates for veterinarian services:
Regular examinations: from 100 rubles, at clinics.
Surgery: depending on the type of surgery, can
range from 50 to 300 Rubles.
Vaccination: At regional vet clinics you can get
them done for free, a house call will attract a
50 to 80 rubles fee.
Home services
a. TV
Most expats have satellite TV, which offers
access to western channels including CNN,
BBC Prime, NBC, MTV, Eurosport, Euronews,
Cartoon Network, RTL and many others. Most
foreign housing developments have this facil-
ity; private landlords may not. However, these
can be easily installed for about $100; the subscription fees are about $10 per month.
Trikolor
Address: Vinogradniy per., 2A, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (988) 235-00-69
b. Domestic help (drivers/housekeepers/
nannies)
You should not expect domestic help to speak
English, very few do. The best way of finding
help is through personal recommendations at
work or friends.
c. Dry cleaners
There are many all over Sochi. They can provide pick up and delivery services directly to
your home. All you need to do is give your
name and telephone number and a detailed
description of items of clothing to be dry
cleaned. Payment is usually when you drop off
the items of clothing, which is also when you
will be given a copy of your order form.
i. Galar
Address: Konstitutsii str., 34, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 64-33-35
ii. Deutch cleaner
Address: Donskaya str, 15, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 55-22-73
d. Water delivery
In general, the water in Sochi is safe to drink,
but most expats use some form of water filtration system such as Brita. These are readily
available for purchase. You can buy bottled
water in supermarkets or arrange delivery
of water with or without the cooler systems,
hand pumps, and ceramic water dispensers.
i. Chistye Kluchi
Address: Iskra str., 68, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 47 28 64
ii. Aqua Life
Address: Severnaya str., 12, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 64-43-73
Time out
a. Theaters
i. Organ and Chamber Music Hall
Address: Kurortniy prospect, 32, Sochi
Telephone: +7 8622 62-24-04
+7 8622 62-33-99
ii. Zimniy Theatre (Winter Theatre)
Address: Teatralnaya Str., 2, Sochi
Telephone: +7 8622 62-20-06
iii. Riviera Park Green Theatre
Address: Egorov Str., 1, Sochi
Telephone: +7 8622 64-10-14
The black sea - Sochi
69
b. Cinema
There are many cinemas in Sochi. Most films
are shown in Russian language. Sometimes,
they do play English language films with Russian subtitles. The cinema times are displayed
at each cinema.
i. Premiera
Address: Navaginskaya str., 7, Sochi
ii. Yubileyniy
Address: Tchekhova str., 48a, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 55-57-82
iii. Sochi
Address: Abrikosovaya str., 12, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 68-10-20
Restaurants
Eating out
New bars along with restaurants and nightclubs pop up all the time. For the latest information, check the local papers, with weekly
reviews on what’s new in town. A wide variety of restaurants offering cuisine from many
nations are located throughout the city; these
include Russian, European, American, Japanese
and Korean, and there is even a pizza delivery
place. To dine in the high end restaurants, like
everywhere else, reservations must be made.
In some restaurants, a 10 to 15% service
charge will be added to the bill, if not, that
amount should be left as a tip.
a. Aleksandr
Address: Vinogradnaya str, 12/1, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 53-26-82
b. Bosfor
European and Asian cuisine
Address: Moskovskaya str, 3, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 92-04-36
c. Dionis
Sea-food
Address: Chernomorskaya str, 3, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 66-18-92
70
d. Peter the Great
Address: Kurortniy prospekt, 103, Sochi
e. Sakura
Japaneese, Chineese cuisine
Address: Chernomorskaya str, 2/3, Sochi
Telephone: +7 (8622) 66-11-75
f. “Signor Pomidor” pizzeria
European cuisine
Opening hours: from 12 noon till 20:00
Average bill: 1000 roubles
Address: Sochi, trade gallery the first block
Telephone: +7 8622 64-11-92
Note: A parking lot is not available
g. “Prague” French Confectionery
Specialty of the house – the “Prague” cake
Average bill: 700 roubles
Opening hours: from 11:00 till 13:00
Address: Morskoy Side Str., 14/10, Sochi
Telephone: +7 8622 62-43-33
Note: A parking lot is available
h. “Japona Mama” sushi-bar
Japanese cuisine
Address: 25 Ordzhonikidze Str. Central district,
Sochi
Telephone: +7 8622 33-41-11
Open: from 10:00 till 03:00 in the morning
If you have any questions regarding real estate
or relocation issues in Sochi, please do not hesitate to contact us in Moscow: 8 (495) 502 9553
Irina Yakimenko
Head of Intermark Relocation
Irina joined Intermark in 2006.
In this role, Irina ensures the
provision of professional relocation and immigration services and efficiency
of expatriate management. Irina also manages
Intermark Relocation's expansion into Russia
and strives for constant diversification and
evolution of the company's services. Born in
Moscow, multi-lingual and having been an
expatriate herself, Irina knows what an expatriate goes through and what it's like to live in
Moscow and move to Russia.
SHORT STORIES
Only in Russia:
The Russian people
Foreigners and Russians alike often ask me
why I have been living in Russia for such a
long time. ‘Is it the money or the adventure
that keeps you here? If not, then it must be the
enchanting Russian ladies’.
All valid reasons for staying here of course,
but the actual answer is different.
In 1993, in a train in Switzerland, I met a
Russian family from Irkutsk – Yuriy, a Russian
scientist, his wife Galya and their two young
sons Mitya and Lonya. As I was a mere law
student from Holland, meeting Russians rather
impressed me and we struck up a conversation.
Before I got off the train, we exchanged telephone numbers and that was the end of it. I had forgotten all about them until one year later; in
the summer of 1994, early in the morning, I arrived by train to the city of Irkutsk in order to visit
the Lake Baikal. Hesitantly, I called the telephone number I had been given one year ago and when
I heard the ‘allo-a’ on the other side of the line I said: ‘Yuriy, this is Jeroen. Do you still rememb….’.
Before I could finish my sentence I heard a mighty roar from the other side of the line: ‘JEROEN,
it is you! We have been waiting for you the entire year!’. Before I knew it, I found myself sitting
in their apartment, with their entire family around the kitchen table loaded with food and drinks.
It was unthinkable that I would stay in a hotel, so a place was found for me in their two room
apartment. I stayed for a week. Yuriy took some days off from work and showed me all around
Irkutsk and Lake Baikal. He and his family have been great friends ever since.
It is now 16 years later and I have been
fortunate to befriend many more extraordinary
Russians. Only after making Russian friends did
I understand that the grumpy, cold and harsh
impression Russians often give in public, is
more than offset by the warmth and emotion
they display in their private lives. My Russian
friends have taught me what it really means to
be human, to be sincere and generous. Unconditional friendship is something I first encountered
in Russia. In Europe, agendas, expectations and
conditions dominate friendships. In Russia, there
are no bounds to the depth or width of friendship. More often than not, when you make a
friend, you practically become a member of the
entire family of that friend. During my 16 years
in Russia, by making a couple of friends, I have
acquired a great number of mothers, cousins,
uncles, aunts and grandparents! You happen
to turn up while your friend happens to have a
dinner party? No problem; an extra chair, plate
and glass are easily provided and food is loaded
on to your plate from the plates of the other
guests. You just want to have some company
after a hard day’s work? No problem; you can
always crash on your friends couch without saying a word.
It took me a long time to understand that
there is a very specific Russian expression for
the feeling that has kept me bound to Russia for
all this time. It is the word ‘radnoy’. Literally, it
means something like ‘a relative’ or ‘native’, but
the exact Russian meaning of the word cannot
be translated into one specific English word. In
a wider sense, it means feeling at home with a
person or with a country. A ‘radnoy’ person is
like ‘one of our own’.
When you get to know Russian people, you will unavoidably come to understand what I am
talking about. And when you do, you will blink an eye, and realise that you have been here much
longer than you ever imagined or planned to stay, and that Russia has become a part of you.
The short stories were sent in by Jeroen Ketting, Lighthouse.
Jeroen Ketting
Jeroen is Founder and Managing Director of Lighthouse.
He has been living in Russia for
over 15 years giving him fluency in the Russian language and
a thorough understanding of the Russian business culture. Jeroen has founded and operated numerous businesses in Russia and has
assisted in the establishment of more than 20
Western-Russian business ventures. Jeroen's
extensive experience in the Russian market is
backed by a strong track record in strategic
business advisory. He is an expert negotiator
and mediator in the Russian-Western context
and is a regular speaker at international
events and seminars related to Russia. He
frequently contributes to Russia related international publications.

Online Relocation Guide

Transcription

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