Anyway Ted
Try and get yourself a Russian Visa and if it all goes Pete Tong and you are stuck in the country then just think of the time you will have on your hands to travel Russia


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Yeah. An extended Vodka training course. bier

Missed all the fun
 

Missed all the fun and games ... always happy to chime in when it comes to geopolitics.

Getting back to your OP Ted, I wouldn't worry too much ... yet. Russia operates strictly on a policy of reciprocity with visas. Russia gets on worse with the USA than any other country, yet US citizens automatically get 3 year multi entry tourist visas to Russia - as a minimum ... because thats what the US gives Russians. UK citizens get maximum 1 year visas, and they cost an arm and a leg and are difficult to get .... because UK visas are expensive and difficult to get for Russians. Russia is far more wary of the US than it is of little old Britain, yet the visa regime is far stricter for Britain than for the US.

Russia's visa regime is (as a general rule) not driven by geopolitics, but rather by reciprocity. They treat us like we treat them. Even within the UK, Russian visas vary greatly in price, dependent on what passport you apply with.

Therefore the biggest risk to change to the ease (or otherwise) of UK citizens getting Russian visas, is if the UK itself changes its policy of issuance of Russian visas.

Having said that, BoJo is not making it easier.

I try and avoid political comment, however WTF are we Brits doing with BoJo in charge of foreign relations, the mans a total lunatic. I'll need a visa to travel from Manchester to London soon.

Bojo needs well and truly Super Moderating

Good news about reciprocity.

I suppose it could get better too. After all the banks jump ship to the continent and we turn into a 3rd world nation we might be asking good old Putin for Overseas AID.

I can see it now. Russian Pavlovs dropping food parcels in London. :smartass:

Umm, now that conjures up some images of fine dining.

What sort of food parcels would those be ? Let's see, an economy about 1/2 the size of California's with a population about 4 times greater. Maybe some goodies left over from 'Lend Lease' ? :)

It would seem that there maybe larger issues regarding travel within Russia given the devolution into the "hunker in the bunker" state-sponsored paranoia AND the declining economic conditions due to oil price collapse, falling ruble and the lack of jobs due to property and mineral rights sales in the places that many, if not most HUBB'ers would like to traverse (eg, Altai, Siberia, etc).

Really a sad time. Other than fairly common experiences with Soviet-era "customer service", I've always enjoyed my trips to Russia, even the day I happened to fly from Ekaterinburg to Istanbul when a particular Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down. As is usually the case, people are good, governments somewhat more of a mixed bag.

The most trouble I've ever had at a Russian border crossing (Tashanta) was a LONG examination of my very FAT passport because the official was somewhat skeptical that a Business Visa could have been issued from some place named BKK (Bangkok). While I waited for multiple phone calls to be made and returned they let me sit by the wood stove and served me tea.

These days, even in the LOS (Land of Smiles, aka Thailand) there's a growing sense of economic stress and junta-sponsored paranoia. A shocking progression after nearly 30 years of visiting and living there. Things can go sideways anywhere, for many reasons.

I miss the Russians from and living east of the Urals.

Hey Kurt
It sounds you haven't yet recovered from your experiences of getting overtaken by that Lada near Tynda in 2013 :D

That's what it "sounds" like.

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of a small mind." :)

They do Hobgoblin at Aldi and Lidl these days...

http://britishbeers.uk/wp-content/up...nglish-Ale.jpg

I believe the said Lada was towing a caravan.... :Beach:

You probably believe Trump is a Billionaire, too.

So you're denying the caravan, but admit the Lada... :blushing:

Chris, nothing wrong with looking back, but try not to stare.

Chara to Khani, Yuktali, Lopcha & Tynda | littletinyplanet

"Just a few KM before Tynda a Lada overtakes us . . . we were going no faster than 70kmph (indicated). The Lada was drifting about, sometimes with 3-wheels in the air. Stopped on tarmac BamBam exclaimed – “we got passed by a Lada !”. And I should care, why ? BamBam is a guy who really believes in the importance of achievements that are rightfully un-noticed by the whole of humanity."

Satisfied ? Things must be woefully un-interesting in someone's life.

Russia
 

If you apply for a visa today by the time you get it we will all be dead so it won't matter.

dohdohdohdohdohdohdohdohdohdohdoh

Loving your optimism :)