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Photo by Helmut Koch, Vivid sky with Northern Lights, Yukon, Canada

I haven't been everywhere...
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  #31  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by grumpy geezer View Post
The bombing has started. Please, no one--no one--no one enter any country in this war zone. Bombing the capital of another country is war. No NATO citizen will be safe for some time.
Yeah I saw news. To be expected suppose; they recognized donbas republics then gave 24hr to ukrainian side to stop shelling civilians. I guess next would be involving UN article 50.

As for no nato citizen will be safe for some time, what do you mean? Are they gonna bomb NATO capitals? They won't stop until they reach brussels??
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  #32  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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As for no nato citizen will be safe for some time, what do you mean? Are they gonna bomb NATO capitals? They won't stop until they reach brussels??
At first it means you as passport holder from a Nato country should not enter Russia. Unless you tend to be a real adventurer or a stupid hazard seeker. At second we will recognize early enough how and with what kinds of effects the political climate in the next weeks will change.
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  #33  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by upanddown.voyage View Post
Hi everyone,

it seems like just about now is the time to register here and join the conversation.

I had planned a trip to central Asia going through Georgia and Russia. Coming from Germany I have received the information (last week) that getting a tourist visa issued and then entering on it overland should not be a big problem. Even with Russian friends living in Russia I still felt like it would be a gamble.

The situation feels a bit more unstable now and I am even hesitant giving my passport to the consulate (who knows whether they process it and I get it back if they reduce their staff...).

Has anyone else planned a similar route for this year? I had planned to enter Russa as early as April. I will probably try to take the ferry across the Caspian Sea now instead.

Cheers,
Benjamin
Could you share the source of this information that Russian land borders are open again? A lot of people are waiting for Russia to re-open. As far as I am aware, there has been no change.

As for being worried about being in Russia at this time, I don't see why, away from the conflict zones, there would be an issue. Most people in the world are sensible enough to detach the actions of a government of a given country from the intentions of an individual which comes from that country, especially outside of the West where few people believe in the illusion of democracy.

EO
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  #34  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by eurasiaoverland View Post

As for being worried about being in Russia at this time, I don't see why, away from the conflict zones, there would be an issue.

EO
Maybe you start seeing an issue at the point when international payment transactions aren`t possible anymore due to sanctions and you are running out of money.
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  #35  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Maybe you start seeing an issue at the point when international payment transactions aren`t possible anymore due to sanctions and you are running out of money.
Then you take cash, just like travelling in Iran, Turkmenistan etc.
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  #36  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by eurasiaoverland View Post
Then you take cash, just like travelling in Iran, Turkmenistan etc.
For sure this works perfect up to point till the russian border is closed and you cannot leave the country or you can leave Russia but the entrance border of the neighbor country is closed for you.

We saw that kind of "border behavior" in the pandemic crisis all over the world could happen silent and very fast. And we all know people who got stuck. Some a short time, some got forced to stay quite longer. But in all that time the international payment system worked fine without failures.

In the moment the situation is that Putins war activities attack the substance of the territorial integrity of Europe build after 2nd World War. These borders were fixed for decades. Everyone who attacks these borders now has to be seen and recognized as highly dangerous for all european countries and of course for the european community. The actual situation is much more dangerous than The Cold War from 1947 to 1989 ever was.

Means european countries and goverments (and of course a lot of other countries worldwide!) have to react to this and due to the fact that they will never answer this by a military actions they will decide for any kind of sanctions to weaken the economic power of Russia.

And as harder and efficient this will work as faster you will run out of your amount of travel cash...
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  #37  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by cyclopathic View Post
Yeah I saw news. To be expected suppose; they recognized donbas republics then gave 24hr to ukrainian side to stop shelling civilians. I guess next would be involving UN article 50.

As for no nato citizen will be safe for some time, what do you mean? Are they gonna bomb NATO capitals? They won't stop until they reach brussels??
This thread is "Will travel be possible for NATO citizens?". The invasion of Ukraine started last night. There is a war in the Ukraine, not in Brussels. Russia will probably not attack any NATO country. However, if you are a NATO citizen do NOT try to enter Russia or Ukraine, this is not a safe time for you in either country. You will be subject to a lot of questioning, possible "detention" until your status is determined, possible injury from local police or private citizens. Bank accounts, credit cards, foreign currency may be difficult to use until this is all cleared up. Do you want to prove you are not a NATO or Russian spy? It will not be a fun day. Ride safe.
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  #38  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Maybe you start seeing an issue at the point when international payment transactions aren`t possible anymore due to sanctions and you are running out of money.
Thats the same in Iran and it works fine.

just have enough cash and you are fine.
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  #39  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by klausmong1 View Post
Thats the same in Iran and it works fine.

just have enough cash and you are fine.
That's okay if the locals accept it, at what ever exchange rate they want.
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  #40  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by sushi2831 View Post
Hello



Only russias dictator Putin can put Russia on any list.
Only he is responsibly for the current tensions and only he knows if Russia (Putin) is going to invade Ukrain.

If he is just bluffing, well played, all western leaders are kissing his ass.

If he does invade Ukrain, let's hope there will be few deaths.


Russia has never been intrested in western tourism, just look at the visa process, compared to other countries that require visa AND are interested in tourism.

sushi
Well said Sushi. I couldn't agree more.
Long live Ukraine.
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  #41  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by grumpy geezer View Post
However, if you are a NATO citizen do NOT try to enter Russia or Ukraine, this is not a safe time for you in either country. You will be subject to a lot of questioning, possible "detention" until your status is determined, possible injury from local police or private citizens.
This is way overblown. I lived in Moscow for 15 years, and have been there twice in the last 6 weeks. I seriously doubt that the average traveler will be interrogated, detained, or "injured by local police or private citizens."

That said, now is obviously not the best time to go to Russia, if for no other reason because of covid and potential issues with payments, etc. I'd already put off a 2022 launch for a trip planned since 2020 because of covid, but right now am not sure when or if I'll return to Russia--not because I think I'll be detained, but because I don't especially want to go there any more...
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  #42  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by motoreiter View Post
This is way overblown. I lived in Moscow for 15 years, and have been there twice in the last 6 weeks. I seriously doubt that the average traveler will be interrogated, detained, or "injured by local police or private citizens."

That said, now is obviously not the best time to go to Russia, if for no other reason because of covid and potential issues with payments, etc. I'd already put off a 2022 launch for a trip planned since 2020 because of covid, but right now am not sure when or if I'll return to Russia--not because I think I'll be detained, but because I don't especially want to go there any more...
Can you really see a Nato citizen getting a Russian Visa now ? If not a NATO ban, certainly a ban from US and UK after the sanctions being drawn today.

Even if you could, Ukraine and Russia are now going to be on the Government red lists for the foreseeable future. So there goes any travel insurance you may require.

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  #43  
Old 24 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Ukraine and Russia are now going to be on the Government red lists for the foreseeable future. So there goes any travel insurance you may require.

Let's hope that remains the smallest problem, czar Putin has just threatend the world with nuklear war if anyone dares to face him in his invasion of Ukraine.

Our only hope is that the russians deal with that problem (czar Putin) themself.
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  #44  
Old 25 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by grumpy geezer View Post
This thread is "Will travel be possible for NATO citizens?". The invasion of Ukraine started last night. There is a war in the Ukraine, not in Brussels. Russia will probably not attack any NATO country. However, if you are a NATO citizen do NOT try to enter Russia or Ukraine, this is not a safe time for you in either country. You will be subject to a lot of questioning, possible "detention" until your status is determined, possible injury from local police or private citizens. Bank accounts, credit cards, foreign currency may be difficult to use until this is all cleared up. Do you want to prove you are not a NATO or Russian spy? It will not be a fun day. Ride safe.
seriously?
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  #45  
Old 25 Feb 2022
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Originally Posted by Hound_Dog View Post
seriously?
It seems pretty serious to me.
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