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Crime in Moscow, Russia
Crime rates in Moscow, Russia
| Level of crime | 41.28 | Moderate | |
| Crime increasing in the past 3 years | 43.95 | Moderate | |
| Worries home broken and things stolen | 32.59 | Low | |
| Worries being mugged or robbed | 36.33 | Low | |
| Worries car stolen | 38.76 | Low | |
| Worries things from car stolen | 45.00 | Moderate | |
| Worries attacked | 41.55 | Moderate | |
| Worries being insulted | 41.68 | Moderate | |
| Worries being subject to a physical attack because of your skin colour, ethnic origin or religion | 34.83 | Low | |
| Problem people using or dealing drugs | 40.08 | Moderate | |
| Problem property crimes such as vandalism and theft | 47.77 | Moderate | |
| Problem violent crimes such as assault and armed robbery | 34.52 | Low | |
| Problem corruption and bribery | 76.04 | High |
Safety in Moscow, Russia
| Safety walking alone during daylight | 78.73 | High | |
| Safety walking alone during night | 50.36 | Moderate |
Contributors: 492
Last update: January 2019
These data are based on perceptions of visitors of this website in the past 3 years.
If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.
This page in other languages:
DeutschKriminalität in Moskau
FrançaisCriminalité à Moscou
EspañolCriminalidad en Moscú
25 Comments so far
So, be smart. If you ask the way and don't get a smile - that doesn't mean he doesn't want to help you. He does. But you are a stranger to him.
In fact, nobody cares about your skin colour. Nobody cares about you at all. Unless you look like ex-USSR Asian. But if you have problems, show that you are not from there - show that you speak English or another European language. Speaking about blacks - they may look at you, because you are not typical for Russia. But they still don't care. Russians are tolerant, they WON'T treat you bad because of your color. There are exceptions, of course. And, feel safe in Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are cities in Russia, where people saw blacks only in films. There you may feel uncomfortable.
Don't show you as gay. We still don't care, but some elderly and low-income uneducated people may see a provocation in it. A provocation to beat you. Be careful.
Try not to communicate with bad-looking ex-USSR Asians, they can be dangerous. It's not racism, it's safety.
By the way, people from US, try not to speak so loud. It may disturb people around you. It's like, 'Look! We're Americans!' for us. In addition, it's common sense not to speak loudly in public transport.
Young people speak English MORE often, than the elderly ones.
And, do not judge by behaviour of people on the street. You'll be surprised, how Russians change in close communication :)
And yes, if you act like you are from a higher class society, you WILL get hostile treatment. Think about it - how can you speak about racism when you can't even treat equally white Russians? :)
How ever I have found Moscow and St Petersburg the most racist cities I have ever visited (and I have visited places all over the world, and lived in Mexico, England ans Spain). If you are not white you will feel like you are being watched all time. You don´t feel like in USA or western Europe where yoy are normally not noticed.
How ever Moscow is an exciting city and its racism should not refrain you from visiting it.
- Never ever look as gay. It's not the part of the Russian culture. Not that Russian people are not tolerant (actually, they are TOO tolerant), but this look is considered as a provocation.
- If you know Russian a bit - don't try to speak it. Don't try to use the words "zdravstvuyte" or "do svidaniya", you will get no respect from the people you are talking to. Don't really know why - maybe because this makes you look like ex-USSR migrant. If you considering between other Slavic language and English - speak English.
- Parks are really safe. The places you should really avoid are industrial and GARAGE areas.
- Don't respond to people in the streets. If you start a communication yourself you will be surprised to find that anyone is friendly and helpful, but if someone tries to talk to you in 50% cases it's a fraud. Other 50% are just asking time or directions.
1) LOOKS
Middle-asian(mongoloid) or mid-eastern(arab) types get harrased by the police. You are expected to pay a bribe if you come from EX-USSR muslim regions.
Their type be living in every basement of every flat block, doing slave-labour and cleaning the streets. SO they are treated like slaves.
If you are black as the night itself, do not worry that much. Well unless you travel to St.-Petersburg. Moscow is much more safe.
Now the gay people. Do NOT look gay, this will cause you A LOT of problems. Maybe you follow the news - everything you've heard is true and even worse. Hide your inner (and outter) f aggot while visiting Moscow. Cover your coloured hair with a hat or something. I am being serious just do it.
You most likely get fucked by the authorities if you are from ex-USSR including Russia itself. Other foreingers are somewhat treated with respect. The police may laugh at you but won't hurt you.
2) CRIME
The financial crisis, war and economic sanctions are taking its toll. In a times like these criminals are more desperate. There are increasing reports on stealing ATMs in broad daylight.
In subway, hold on to your electronic devices when the doors are closing. My sister got her IPAD stolen this way. A middle-asian looking kid just grabbed it and jumped the train.
One guy I know got his phone pickpocketed from his shirt's front pocket ( how is that even possible ).
It is absolutely useless to go to the police if you get robbed. They will file a paper and throw it in the trash later when you leave. This applies to citizens and non-citizens both.
Recently someone tried to grab my arm near subway station which did not happen IN YEARS. I did not stop even for a second, but still... This is what you should do by the way. Never slow down. They will never pirsuit you, rather be looking for a fool tourist who stops when grabbed by a sleeve.
Unless you are a scary looking slav-face 1.9m tall, walking at night is unsafe. Depending on the part of the Moscow - south, east and southeastert parts are the worst fucking shit.
3) HOW TO BEHAVE
*** now this part may be hard to comprehend, just trust me on this ******************
Act like everyone around. Do not smile and blend in. Do not stand where everyone is walking. DO NOT RESPOND TO ANYONE NEAR THE RAILWAY STATIONS - here you will get scammed and/or pickpocketed. Railway stations and suburb trains are the worst. Subway hubs are more safe but same rules apply. Always pretend that you are in hurry for somewhere, its better to make a circle twice that suspiciously stand out.
If someone stands in your way turn 90 degreen and walk around him like he is a pole or something. If he keeps doing that keep walking. I will repeat it again: NEVER STOP is the golden rule.
Fear people who smile at you.
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But this comment sums it better than everything
"The whole country is a scam with a gangster like police"
Oh yeah, this is so true. But at least this is not south africa or Manchester (yet) (haha).
This is a very very politically incorrect country, like Poland on steroids.
General rules apply: stay away from parks, keep your eyes open, use common sense.
There is so much shit in the comments, oh my god.
I hope this helps.
Russian Authorities have planted false evidence against people whose only "crime" is to read their Bible and apply Jesus teachings. The have been named Terrorists and Radicals. The Russian Government is degrading itself by the use of laws that were made by the Russian Government to protect HUMAN RIGHTS in Russia and falsely accuse their most peaceful and law abiding citizens.
What a shame that the whole world is watching.
The biggest fear for me was to ask for the information on products in the shops, they would say something rude: )) Was soo much strange for me to face such a big rudeness so often and in such ordinary situations.
Anyway I made a few very good friends there and had some fun.
Maybe I was not lucky enough with the service in Russia, but I think my trip was not bad.
Quality of life means a lot of things, surely a lot more than the short list given. What about the cultural and intellectual stimulation? Russia is the most educated country in the world, a higher percentage of university grads than many of the US states graduate from high school. There are vast numbers of museums(354 in St Petersburg), concert halls, ballet theaters, opera, dance, jazz and rock clubs, hundreds of drama theaters(far more than NYC or London in Moscow and almost as many in St Petersburg), and all being very accessible unlike western cities where visiting world class opera or a ballet is very expensive, all classes and ages attend every event, that occur every night for an 11 month cultural season. Whenever I return to San Francisco, I am bored to tears in a few days. Moscow and St Petersburg are just more exciting, fun and social.
Please note one important thing: "Moscow" does NOT equals to "Russia". It does not equals suburbs as well. Staying in the city rather safe.
@Igor must be leaving out of MKAD (the city ring road) so it is not correct to apply this experience to the Moscow.
Think before you act, and you'll be ok. This is universal advice for every city in the world. )
When compared to other big cities Moscow is in the average.
New York has a similar rate and Paris even have a higher rate than Moscow, so I would consider it a "safe" city to travel... At least as safe as all big cities around the world.
I recently moved from Russia, but I am in touch with many of my relatives (who live in Moscow) and they say that it's alright there. I live in Atlanta and I see a better infrastructure and environment here (which can be debatable), but Moscow isn't that city where you get robbed abused and all that a second after you leave your home.
Living in Moscow for 16 years. Everyday walk from work back home through dark park after sunset freely. Never’ve been robbed, assaulted or anything. Lived 2 years in Paris and 1 year in Houston, TX and comparing to these cities Moscow is way safer. Biggest problem here are immigrants from middle Asia, cops and Friday drunks in the street. Speaking about drugs worst place I saw in terms of junkies in the street was Houston downtown in the evening. If you want to contact with police first thing they do is checking your passport and visa and only after they can listen to your problems. Cops outside of central area barely or doesn’t speak any language except Russian at all.