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Editor's note: Each month, ITN features a different country on this page, giving some current and background information as provided by the State Department. Similar information. is available on other countries as well. Consular Information Sheets may be ordered, following a recorded message, by calling 202/647-5225, faxing 202/647-3000, or via computer and modem through the Bulletin Board at 202/647-9225.

(Consular Information Sheet No. 96-131, dated July 12, 1996)

Country Description: Russia is a nation undergoing profound political and economic change.

Travel to the Caucasus region in the south, especially to the Republic of Chechnya, is extremely dangerous due to the ongoing conflict and political tension in the area.

While tourist facilities exist in Moscow and some other large cities, they are not developed in most of Russia and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available.

Travelers may need to cross great distances, especially in Siberia and the Far East, to obtain services from Russian government organizations or from the U.S. Embassy or its Consulates.

Entry Requirements: All Americans traveling to or transiting through Russia by any means of transportation must have a passport and visa. Travelers who arrive without a passport or entry visa may be subject to large fines, days of processing requirements by Russian officials, and/ or immediate departure by route of entry (at traveler's expense).

Travelers should also keep a photocopy of passports and visas in a safe place to facilitate replacement should either be stolen.

Visas are issued based on support from a Russian individual or organization - the sponsor. Transit visas, however, do not need a sponsor.

It is very important to know who your sponsor is and how they can be contacted, as Russian law requires that the sponsor apply for replacement, extension or changes to your visa. The U.S. Embassy cannot act as a sponsor. Tourists should contact in advance their tour company or hotel for information on visa sponsorship.

HIV Testing Requirement - Under a 1995 Russian law, any person applying for a visa for a stay of more than three months must present a certificate showing that the individual is HIV negative.

The certificate must contain the applicant's passport data, proposed length of stay in Russia, and blood-test results for HIV infection, including date of the test, signature of the doctor conducting the test, medical examination results, diagnostic series and seal of the hospital/medical organization. The certificate must be in both Russian and English and valid for three months from the date of medical examination and special test.

Exit Requirements. All foreigners must have an exit visa to depart. For short stays, the exit visa is issued along with the entry visa. For longer stays, the exit visa must be obtained by the sponsor after the traveler's arrival.

All travelers who spend more than three days in Russia must register their visa through their hotel or sponsor. Visitors who stay for weeks may be prevented from leaving if they have not registered their visas. Errors in dates or other information on the visa can occur and it is helpful to have someone who reads Russian check the visa before departing the U.S.

For information concerning entry, exit and HIV requirements, travelers can contact the Russian Embassy Consular Division, 1825 Phelps Place NW, Washington, D.C. 20008; phone 202/939-8918. . . or the Consulate in New York, San Francisco or Seattle.

Air Travel: Air travel is often unreliable, with unpredictable schedules and difficult conditions, including deterioration of airplane maintenance and quality of service.

Travel by U.S. Government personnel is permitted only on airlines certified by the Russian Department of Air Transport. It has provided a list, available from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, of those airlines certified by Russia for international operations.

Airlines certified to operate internationally meet higher standards than domestic-only air carriers yet also fly to most domestic destinations. Safety certification of the airlines on the list is provided solely by the Russian Department of Air Transport. The Federal Aviation Administration only certifies the safety of U.S. airlines.

Areas of Instability: Travel to the Caucasus region in the south, especially to the Republic of Chechnya, is extremely dangerous due to armed conflict and political tensions in the area. Russian armed forces remain in the neighboring republics of Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Dagestan.

Two U.S. citizens have disappeared in Chechnya and remain unaccounted for. Chechen separatists and those sympathetic to their cause have taken hostages on several occasions.

As a result of recent terrorist incidents, including the two July 1996 bombings of two public buses in Moscow, security in Moscow has been tightened, particularly on public buses, in the metro (subway) system, at government facilities and at entry and exit points from the city.

While there have been no specific threats made against Americans, travelers should exercise caution if taking public transportation. U.S. citizens are advised to carry their passport and visa with them always and report any suspicious objects or individuals to the nearest authorities.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Inclement weather and lack of routine maintenance make road conditions throughout Russia highly variable. Drivers and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution to avoid accidents, which are commonplace at all times.

Traffic police sometimes stop motorists to extract cash "fines," and bandits occasionally prey on travelers, particularly on the road between St. Petersburg and Vyborg.

Medical Facilities: Medical care is usually far below Western standards, with severe shortages of basic medical supplies. Access to the few quality facilities that exist in major cities usually requires cash, dollar payment at Western rates upon admission.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates maintain lists of such facilities and English-speaking doctors. Many resident Americans travel to the West for virtually all of their medical needs; such travel can be very expensive if undertaken under emergency conditions.

Travelers may wish to check their insurance coverage and consider supplemental coverage for medical evacuation. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at particular risk.

More complete information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers' hotline; phone 404/332-4559, or visit the CDC home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov.

Crime Information: Crime against foreigners is a problem, especially in major cities. Pickpocketings, assaults and robberies occur day and night, most frequently on city streets and in underground walkways and the subway; on intercity trains, especially the Moscow-St. Petersburg overnight train; in train stations and airports; at markets, tourist attractions and restaurants, and in hotel rooms and residences, even when locked or occupied.

Members of religious and missionary groups have been robbed by people pretending to be interested in their beliefs. Groups of children are known to assault and rob foreigners on city streets or underground walkways. Foreigners who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars or on their way home. Robberies may occur in taxis shared with strangers.

Travelers have found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies, as solo travelers are more vulnerable to crime.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

If you receive a replacement for your lost or stolen U.S. passport from the U.S. Embassy or a Consulate in Russia, your exit visa must also be replaced, with assistance from your sponsor, so that the passport number written on the visa matches your new passport. This requires a Russian police report.

The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia and the Newly Independent States."

Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Crime Against Foreign Businesses: Extortion and corruption permeate the business environment. Organized criminal groups target foreign businesses in many cities and reportedly demand protection money under threat of serious violence. Many Western firms hire security services, but this has not always proven effective in avoiding armed extortion attempts.