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Free market reform has not been kind to Russia. Production and investment are in diabolical decline due to uncertainty induced by both the pace of change and the suspicions born of endemic and insidious corruption. Some 40 million people languish below the poverty line.
GDP: US$600 billion
GDP per head: US$4000
Annual growth: -5%
Inflation: 84%
Major industries: Oil, coal, iron ore, timber
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany), Belarus, Ukraine, USA
Member of EU: no

Events

Easter and Christmas are celebrated with midnight services, candlelight processions and flourishings of folk art. In April St Petersburg celebrates Music Spring, an international classical music festival, and the last 10 days of June feature the White Nights, a time for general merrymaking and staying up late. A film festival is held in Moscow in autumn in odd-numbered years. The Russian Winter Festival is celebrated in St Petersburg, Moscow and Novgorod from late December to early January, and includes folklore shows and vodka. The other main winter celebration is New Year, celebrated with presents, champagne and yet more vodka.

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: All visitors require a visa
Health risks: Diphtheria, encephalitis, hepatitis A and typhoid
Time: There are 11 time zones; Moscow is GMT/UTC plus three hours
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric
Tourism: 7 million visitors per year

July and August are the warmest months and the main holiday season. They're also the dampest - it might rain one day in three. So if you want to avoid the crowds and the rain, try May-June or September-October. In early autumn the leaves are turning and you can pick mushrooms and berries. Although winter is bitter, theatres open, the vodka comes out, buildings are warm and the snow is beautiful. Spring is slushy, muddy and generally horrible.