Russia

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Russia, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Russia, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The tax implications for operating in Russia may be found at the Internal Revenue Service’s United States-Russia Income Tax Convention. For further clarification, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Russia at 28 out of 100 (138th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations.

Articles

The US State Department's page on RUSSIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN MOSCOW AND SAINT  PETERSBURG WILL TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS FROM NOVEMBER 13 TO COMBAT INCREASING NUMBERS OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) CASES. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED A TIGHTENING OF NATIONWIDE RESTRICTIONS OCTOBER 28 AMID RISING COVID-19 INFECTION RATES.  FACEMASKS ARE COMPULSORY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND IN ENCLOSED REGIONS WITH INCREASED INFECTION RATES. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS HAVE RESUMED TO MORE THAN 30 COUNTIRES, INCLUDING ARMENIA, BELARUS, CUBA, FRANCE, GREECE, GERMANY, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ITALY, ISRAEL, JAPAN, KAZAKHSTAN, KYRGYZTAN, NETHERLANDS, SERBIA, SOUTH KOREA, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, TAJIKISTAN, TURKEY, THE UK AND THE US. THE AVAILABILITY OF FLIGHTS IS STILL DEPENDENT ON COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN DESTINATION COUNTRIES. FLIGHTS WITH LOW DEMAND COULD BE CANCELED OR MERGED WITH A LATER OR EARLIER SERVICE. FOREIGN AIR PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN RUSSIA MUST PRESENT NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS TAKEN NO LONGER THAN 72 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE, RUSSIAN CITIZENS MUST PRODUCE A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST WITHIN THREE DAYS UPON ARRIVAL OR SELF ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS. FOREIGNERS ARE NOT ALLOWED ENTRY FOR TOURISM PURPOSES. ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY VIA RIVER AND SEA PORTS REMAIN SUSPENDED. ANY RESTRICTIONS MAY BE EXTENDED OR AMENDED WITH LITTLE ADVANCE NOTICE. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE RESTRICTIONS COULD RESULT IN A FINE OR IMPRISIONMENT. 

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

If you are traveling to Russia on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here(link is external). For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED A TRAVEL ADVISORY (updated January 10, 2018) ASKING TRAVELERS TO RECONSIDER GOING TO RUSSIA DUE TO TERRORISM AND HARASSMENT. TRAVELERS TO RUSSIA SHOULD READ THE ENTIRE TRAVEL WARNING BEFORE DEPARTURE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO ASSURE THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic(link is external).

The quality of health care in Russia varies considerably. For a public ambulance, dial 112. The following facilities in Moscow and St. Petersburg are recommended, although their quality cannot be guaranteed:

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas, especially in Moscow. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Travelers should assume the drinking water in Russia is contaminated with sewage and industrial or agricultural runoff. Volga River water is especially polluted and should not be consumed. Giardia is endemic to the water supply around St. Petersberg. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink only bottled, boiled, or purified water. Travelers should use well-recognized brands of bottled water whenever possible.

Local alcoholic beverages may be contaminated with substances such as methanol and cause a multitude of symptoms, including death. According to Interior Ministry statistics, nearly 42,000 Russians die annually from this type of alcohol poisoning. Purchase alcohol only from reputable sellers. Alcohol in well-established hotels and restaurants is likely safe.

Meat products in Russia may not be sanitary. Salmonella is common in poultry-producing areas, especially Perm and Kemerovo. Trichinella is a common result of eating undercooked boar, bear, pig, and dog. All meat should be thoroughly cooked before eating and served hot.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Russia, including:

  • Hepatitis A, prevalent throughout the country.
  • Tuberculosis. Russia is a World Health Organization high-burden country for TB. To minimize exposure, avoid crowds and public transportation.
  • Tick-borne encephalitis, transmitted via tick bite or unpasteurized milk products, occurs in forests, fields, or pastures, mostly from April to October. The risk is higher along river and stream valleys throughout the Urals, in mountains and forests, in far eastern Russia, and in the south-central area (Altay, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, and Krasnoyarsk Kray).
  • Crimean-Congo Fever or Ukrainian-Congo Fever, usually transmitted by tick bites, in the Astrakhan, Rostov, and Volgograd regions; the Kalmykia, Krasnodar and Stavropol territories; and Dagestan and Ingushetia.
  • Lyme disease, yet another tick-borne illness. Exposure is highest in Udmurt, Khakassia, Buryatiya, Irkutsk, Sverdlovsk, and Pskov.
  • Hantavirus, primarily from July to October in forests and rural areas in the southwestern, central, and eastern areas of the country. The highest incidence is in Primorskiy Kray and the Bashkortostan Republic. An especially high risk area is Samara to Sverdlovsk and southward into Kazakhstan.
  • Sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. British sources estimate the incidence of syphilis in Russia is 60 times that of the US.  

In most of Russia, petty crime such as pickpocketing and theft is the main threat to travelers. However, strongarm robberies do occur and travelers should avoid displays of wealth, including electronics and jewelry. Credit card fraud is a serious problem. Credit and debit cards should be used only at reputable establishments. Do not be afraid to walk away from scam artists who accost you on the street. Despite a high rate of pickpocketing, public transit is safe. Have your host secure a taxi rather than hailing one on the street.

The Russian police are competent, especially in the larger cities, but their response rate can vary. They are also prone to corruption and face few consequences for extorting money from foreigners. Anyone not of Slavic ethnicity risks harassment from security forces. The police become especially dangerous when responding to protests; travelers should avoid political demonstrations.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Russia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Bomb threats against public venues are common.

U.S. citizens are often victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by law-enforcement and other officials. U.S. consular assistance to detained individuals is often unreasonably delayed by Russian officials. Russia also enforces special restrictions on dual U.S.-Russian nationals. Due to the Russian government-imposed reduction on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, the U.S. government has reduced ability to provide services to U.S. citizens.

Legal/Political

Arrest Notification: Russia routinely fails to meet its obligation to inform the U.S. Embassy of arrests of U.S. citizens. If you are detained, ask the police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy or Consulate immediately. Your U.S. passport does not protect you from arrest or prosecution. 

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to all Russian laws. If you violate these laws, even unknowingly, you may be arrested, fined, imprisoned, or expelled and may be banned from re-entering Russia. 

Some crimes committed outside the United States are prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. 

  • You can be arrested, detained, fined, deported and banned for 5 years or more if you are found to have violated Russian immigration law.
  • Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Russia are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
  • You can be detained for not carrying your passport with you.
  • You can be jailed immediately for driving under the influence of alcohol.
  • It is illegal to pay for goods and services in U.S. dollars, except at authorized retail establishments.
  • You can be arrested for attempting to leave the country with antiques, even if they were legally purchased from licensed vendors. Cultural value items like artwork, icons, samovars, rugs, military medals and antiques, must have certificates indicating they do not have historical or cultural value. You may obtain certificates from the Russian Ministry of Culture. 
  • Retain all receipts for high-value items, including caviar.
  • You must have advance approval to bring in satellite telephones.
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) and other radio electronic devices, and their use, are subject to special rules and regulations in Russia. Contact the Russian Customs Service for required permissions.

LGBTI Travelers: Russian law bans providing "the propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors. Foreign citizens face fines, up to 15 days in jail, and deportation. The law is vague as to what Russia considers propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.

  • Discrimination based on sexual orientation is widespread in Russia. Acts of violence and harassment targeting LGBTI individuals occur.
  • Government officials have made derogatory comments about LGBTI persons and violence against the LGBTI community has increased.
  • There have been credible reports of arrest, torture, and extrajudicial killing of LGBTI persons in Chechnya allegedly conducted by Chechen regional authorities.