Last September I exited Russia into Latvia using route M9 and my experience and subsequent route were similar to that described in the post by henryuk. The Russian border crossing was not at all busy with only 3 - 4 other vehicles there at that time (it was a Sunday). If it hadn't been for a problem with my migration card I would have been out of the country in 30 - 45 minutes. The problem was that the last hotel stamp on the migration card was weeks before and the Russian officials wanted some evidence of where I had been during that time. Eventually I satisfied them by giving them some stamped hotel receipts, so be sure to keep those until you are out of Russia.
At the Latvian border checkpoint I was asked for my passport, IDP, and proof of liability (green card) insurance. In total, admission into Latvia took about 20 minutes, including exchanging my Rubles for Euros. I was traveling on a US passport. No carnet was required in Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, or Germany. The crossings into the other countries largely consisted of a scan of my passport and took as little as 5 minutes, except into Germany where my luggage was searched. Crossing between EU countries seems very easy and simple.
I hope this is of some help to you. I have no experience exiting Russia at any other location.
Mike
Idaho
www.rtwrider.net
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Mike
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