Hello Tom
Sorry I didn't see your post earlier.
If you want further information, please leave a thread on the North Asia forum. This is the one which I regularly access. Also best to see www.waytorussia.net for an excellent russian site - I post there as DITTRICH and have made alot of posts about taking cars into and out of russia.
I may also travel to Russia next summer in early august (but by car - hence 4wheels). I travel to russia every summer for about 4 weeks on holiday. I was thinking of going via murmansk but I've just seen that the Ukraine have abolished visas for UK citizens so a trip to the Crimea may well be on the cards. Sort of Poland, Ukraine - Crimea, Russia - Sochi - Moscow, Finland, Sweden, Denmark - and Eurotunnel!
Regards
Les

Edit: You will have to extend your temporary import permit. Customs at the Finland border only give it for 10 working days. My visa was a private visa - yours will be business BUT would it make a difference? I don't know. Now, to extend the t.i.c. you need to register - your migration card - they stamp the back and put details. The customs will need your migration card to process the extension and guess what the extension can only be granted up to the end date on your migration card. You have 2 options - waste 1/2 day to extend your t.i.c. or go without and face the fines/bribes. I went for the t.i.c. option 'cos even though I speak russian and have a russian license, better to have all documents in order. I cannot stress too highly the benefits of having all your documents in order. The 'company' which issues the invitation to russia should ideally be based in StP so you can properly register your visa there (for the WHOLE of your stay) Then pop down to the customs in StP to extend your t.i.c. take some cash roubles £100 s/be more than enough. Take someone who can speak russian. See www.waytorussia.net transportation section and the above will be put into context - don't believe what they say about the 10days - its real - I know!

[This message has been edited by 4wheels (edited 06 December 2005).]