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Travel and tourism in Russia - statistics & facts

Covid-19 impact on russians' travel destinations, impact of the war in ukraine on tourism in russia, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Russia 2019-2023

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Russia 2019-2023

Tourism spending in Russia 2019-2022, by travel purpose

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Destinations

Leading outbound travel destinations in Russia 2021-2022

Number of outbound tourism trips from Russia 2014-2022

Leading source markets for travel to Russia 2020-2022, by arrivals

Further recommended statistics

Premium Statistic Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure worldwide 2019-2023
Premium Statistic Travel industry revenue distribution in Russia 2022, by segment
Premium Statistic Tourism spending in Russia 2019-2022, by travel purpose
Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Russia 2019-2023
Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Russia 2019-2023

Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure worldwide 2019-2023

Countries with the highest outbound tourism expenditure worldwide from 2019 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel industry revenue distribution in Russia 2022, by segment

Distribution of travel industry revenue in Russia in 2022, by segment

Travel and tourism spending in Russia from 2019 to 2022, by purpose (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Russia 2019-2023

Total contribution of travel and tourism to gross domestic product (GDP) in Russia from 2019 to 2023 (in billion Russian rubles)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Russia 2019-2023

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Russia from 2019 to 2023 (in million jobs)

Outbound tourism

Basic Statistic Outbound travel expenditure in Russia 2011-2022
Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourism trips from Russia 2014-2022
Premium Statistic Leading outbound travel destinations in Russia 2021-2022
Premium Statistic Number of outbound tourists from Russia 2022, by territory
Premium Statistic Outbound tourist flow growth in Russia 2022, by destination
Premium Statistic European Union (EU) Schengen visas issued in Russia 2010-2023

Outbound travel expenditure in Russia 2011-2022

Outbound travel expenditure in Russia from 2011 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of outbound tourism trips from Russia from 2014 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of outbound travel visits from Russia from 2021 to 2022, by destination (in 1,000s)

Number of outbound tourists from Russia 2022, by territory

Number of Russians travelling abroad with tourism purposes in 2022, by territory (in 1,000s)

Outbound tourist flow growth in Russia 2022, by destination

Growth in outbound travelers with tourism purposes from Russia in 2022 compared to 2019, by selected destination

European Union (EU) Schengen visas issued in Russia 2010-2023

Number of Schengen Area visas issued from applications to consulates in Russia from 2010 to 2023*

Inbound and domestic tourism

Basic Statistic International tourism spending in Russia 2011-2022
Premium Statistic Leading source markets for travel to Russia 2020-2022, by arrivals
Basic Statistic Domestic travel spending in Russia 2019-2022
Basic Statistic Number of nature protected areas in Russia 2015-2022, by type
Premium Statistic Estimated demand for inbound tourism in Russia Q1 2014-Q3 2023
Premium Statistic Inbound tourist flow growth in Russia 2020-2023
Premium Statistic Number of inbound tourist arrivals in Russia 2014-2022

International tourism spending in Russia 2011-2022

Spending of international tourists in Russia from 2011 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading inbound tourism markets visiting Russia from 2020 to 2022, by number of trips (in 1,000s)

Domestic travel spending in Russia 2019-2022

Domestic tourism expenditure in Russia from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of nature protected areas in Russia 2015-2022, by type

Number of nature conservation areas in Russia from 2015 to 2022, by type

Estimated demand for inbound tourism in Russia Q1 2014-Q3 2023

Estimated balance of demand for inbound tourism in Russia from 1st quarter 2014 to 3rd quarter 2023

Inbound tourist flow growth in Russia 2020-2023

Year-over-year growth in inbound tourism trips with tourism purposes in Russia from 2020 to 2023

Number of inbound tourist arrivals in Russia 2014-2022

Number of inbound tourism visits to Russia from 2014 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Travel companies

Premium Statistic Travel industry organizations distribution in Russia 2022, by segment
Premium Statistic Number of tourism companies in Russia 2010-2022
Premium Statistic Most popular travel websites in Russia 2023, by traffic

Travel industry organizations distribution in Russia 2022, by segment

Distribution of travel industry organizations in Russia in 2022, by segment

Number of tourism companies in Russia 2010-2022

Number of travel agencies and reservation service establishments in Russia from 2010 to 2022

Most popular travel websites in Russia 2023, by traffic

Leading travel and tourism websites in Russia in August 2023, by monthly visits (in millions)

Package tours

Premium Statistic Number of package tours sold in Russia 2014-2021, by type
Premium Statistic Value of package tours sold in Russia 2014-2022, by type
Premium Statistic Package tour cost in Russia 2014-2022, by type
Premium Statistic Most popular travel destinations on package tours in Russia 2022

Number of package tours sold in Russia 2014-2021, by type

Number of package tours sold in Russia from 2014 to 2021, by tourism type (in 1,000s)

Value of package tours sold in Russia 2014-2022, by type

Total value of package tours sold in Russia from 2014 to 2022, by tourism type (in billion Russian rubles)

Package tour cost in Russia 2014-2022, by type

Average cost of a package tour in Russia from 2014 to 2022, by tourism type (in 1,000 Russian rubles)

Most popular travel destinations on package tours in Russia 2022

Number of outbound tourists sent on tours by travel agencies in Russia in 2022, by destination (in 1,000s)

Transportation

Premium Statistic Number of domestic airline passengers in Russia monthly 2020-2022
Premium Statistic Passenger traffic growth of airlines in Russia 2021
Premium Statistic Travel transportation consumer price in Russia 2022, by type

Number of domestic airline passengers in Russia monthly 2020-2022

Number of passengers boarded by domestic airlines in Russia from January 2020 to May 2022 (in millions)

Passenger traffic growth of airlines in Russia 2021

Year-over-year growth rate in air passengers in Russia in 2021, by carrier

Travel transportation consumer price in Russia 2022, by type

Average consumer price of travel transportation in Russia in 2022, by type (in Russian rubles)

Accommodation

Basic Statistic Paid travel accommodation services value in Russia 2015-2022
Premium Statistic Travel accommodation establishments in Russia 2022, by federal district
Basic Statistic Total room area in travel accommodation in Russia 2013-2022
Premium Statistic Number of visitors in hotels in Russia 2010-2022
Basic Statistic Number of hotel visitors in Russia 2022, by travel purpose
Premium Statistic Overnight accommodation cost in Moscow monthly 2020-2023
Premium Statistic Hotel occupancy rate in Moscow 2023, by segment
Premium Statistic Average daily hotel rate in Moscow 2023, by segment

Paid travel accommodation services value in Russia 2015-2022

Value of paid services provided by travel accommodation establishments in Russia from 2015 to 2022 (in billion Russian rubles)

Travel accommodation establishments in Russia 2022, by federal district

Number of collective accommodation establishments in Russia in 2022, by federal district

Total room area in travel accommodation in Russia 2013-2022

Total area of rooms in travel accommodation establishments in Russia from 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000 square meters)

Number of visitors in hotels in Russia 2010-2022

Number of visitors in hotels and similar accommodation establishments in Russia from 2010 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of hotel visitors in Russia 2022, by travel purpose

Number of visitors in hotels and similar accommodation establishments in Russia in 2022, by purpose of travel (in 1,000s)

Overnight accommodation cost in Moscow monthly 2020-2023

Average cost of overnight accommodation in Moscow from May 2020 to September 2023 (in euros)

Hotel occupancy rate in Moscow 2023, by segment

Occupancy rate of quality hotels in Moscow from January to March 2023, by segment

Average daily hotel rate in Moscow 2023, by segment

Average daily rate (ADR) in hotels in Moscow from January to March 2023, by segment (in Russian rubles)

Travel behavior

Premium Statistic Reasons to not travel long-haul in Russia 2022
Premium Statistic Intention to travel to Europe in Russia 2019-2022
Basic Statistic Summer vacation plans of Russians 2012-2023
Premium Statistic Travel frequency for private purposes in Russia 2023
Basic Statistic Average holiday spend per person in Russia 2011-2023
Premium Statistic Attitudes towards traveling in Russia 2023
Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Russia 2023

Reasons to not travel long-haul in Russia 2022

Main reasons for avoiding travel outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Russia from September to December 2022

Intention to travel to Europe in Russia 2019-2022

Index of intention to travel to Europe from Russia from January 2019 to December 2022 (in points)

Summer vacation plans of Russians 2012-2023

Where do you plan to spend your vacation this summer?

Travel frequency for private purposes in Russia 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in Russia as of March 2023

Average holiday spend per person in Russia 2011-2023

How much money did you spend per person on holidays this summer? (in Russian rubles)

Attitudes towards traveling in Russia 2023

Attitudes towards traveling in Russia as of March 2023

Travel product online bookings in Russia 2023

Travel product online bookings in Russia as of March 2023

Further reports

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17 Top Tourist Attractions in Moscow

By Alex Schultz · Last updated on May 4, 2024

The capital of Russia is an incredible place to explore. Visitors to Moscow come away spellbound at all the amazing sights, impressed at the sheer size and grandeur of the city. Lying at the heart of Moscow, the Red Square and the Kremlin are just two of the must-see tourist attractions; they are the historical, political and spiritual heart of the city – and indeed Russia itself.

A fascinating city to wander around, stunning cathedrals, churches, and palaces lie side-by-side with bleak grey monuments and remains from the Soviet state. In addition to its plethora of historical and cultural tourist attractions, Moscow is home to world-class museums, theaters and art galleries.

Renowned for its performing arts, fantastic ballets and amazing circus acts, catching a show while in Moscow is a must. The wealth of brilliant restaurants, trendy bars, and lively nightlife means there is something for everyone to enjoy.

17. Tsaritsyno Palace

Once the summer residence of Catherine the Great, the stunning Tsaritsyno Palace is now a museum-reserve. The architecture is magnificent and there is a lovely park surrounding it for visitors to explore.

Located in the south of Moscow, the palace was commissioned in 1775 and recent renovations mean its lavish interior looks better than ever before with its elegant halls and beautiful staircases.

The exhibits on display look at the life of the empress as well as the history of Tsaritsyno itself. The huge palace grounds are also home to some other delightful buildings with the elegant opera house and wonderful brickwork of the Small Palace being particularly impressive to gaze upon.

Starting out in 1935 as the ‘All-Union Agricultural Exhibition’, VDNKh has slowly morphed over the years into the fascinating open-air museum of today. Remarkably, over 400 buildings can now be found within its confines.

The huge park complex has numerous pavilions representing former Soviet republics on show, such as those of Armenia and Turkmenistan and the distinctive architecture of each of the buildings is always interesting to gaze upon. In addition to this there is the fascinating Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics which is dedicated to space exploration and the fun Moskvarium aquarium even offers you the chance to swim with dolphins.

With lots of eateries scattered about and numerous entertainment options such as horse-riding and zip-lining, there is something for everyone to enjoy; the Friendship of Nations fountain truly is wonderful.

15. Kremlin Armoury

One of the oldest museums in the city, the Kremlin Armoury has a wealth of treasures; highlights include the ornate Grand Siberian Railway egg, the historic Cap of Monomakh and the stunning Imperial Crown of Russia which often has a crowd of tourists around it, jostling to take a photo.

Once the royal armory, there are loads of fascinating objects on display. Perusing the many sabers, jewelry, armor and more is as interesting as it is educational and entertaining and the swords are so finely crafted that you’ll almost wish you could pick up one and wield if yourself.

Established in 1851, the museum is situated in the Moscow Kremlin.

14. GUM Department Store

Standing for ‘Main Universal Store’ in Russian, GUM is stunning. Its wonderful skylights and beautiful facades mean it doesn’t look out of place alongside its illustrious neighbors on Red Square.

With over 200 shops, boutiques and upmarket eateries inside, it is a shopaholic’s heaven and concerned partners will be glad to find more affordable options alongside luxury brands such as Dior and Prada.

The main department store in the city, GUM was opened in 1893. The stunning architecture makes it well worth a visit even if shopping isn’t your thing.

13. Moscow Metro

It’s not often that public transport looks like a work of art. So many stops on the Moscow Metro will astound visitors with their beauty and elegance.

Decked in marble and with frescoes covering the walls, the stations are amazing to gaze upon and are part of one of the longest metro systems in the world, with the first stations opened in 1935.

Using the metro is the quickest and easiest way to get around Moscow and braving the crowds of commuters is well worth it for the beauty all around you.

12. Arbat Street

An elegant yet lively street, Arbat is full of impressive architecture and was once a popular place to live for aristocrats, artists, and academics.

A historic place, it is down Arbat Street that Napoleon’s troops are said to have headed on their way to capture the Kremlin.

Nowadays, there are many cafes, restaurants, and shops, as well as various monuments and statues to former residents such as Alexander Pushkin who was reputed to be a lover of the Russian Empress due to his massive influence in court.

11. Novodevichy Convent

Drenched in history, the Novodevichy Convent is located in a striking building that was once a fortress. This captivating place is well worth visiting when in Moscow.

Founded in 1524, the convent houses four cathedrals; Smolensk Cathedral is the undoubted highlight due to its delightful 16th-century frescoes.

Wandering around the grounds is like stepping back in time. The Novodevichy Cemetery is where many famous leaders of the Soviet Union are buried, such as Yeltsin and Khrushchev.

10. Pushkin Museum

Despite its name, the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts actually has no connection at all to the famous poet other than that it was named in his honor after his death. A delight to visit, its extensive collection focuses on European art with masterpieces by Botticelli, Rembrandt, and van Gogh all featuring.

Sculptures, graphic art, paintings and more can be found in its beautiful galleries; various sections look at themes and epochs such as the Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age, and Byzantine art.

Among the many highlights are the clownish characters which can be found in Cezanne’s Fastnacht (Mardi Gras) and the twirling ballerinas who look so elegant in Degas’ Blue Dancers. Picasso’s Young acrobat on a Ball is also well worth checking out for its interesting use of shapes and colors.

9. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This gorgeous Russian Orthodox cathedral is located on the banks of the Moskva River, just a stone’s throw away from the Kremlin.

The church as it stands today was consecrated in 2000, as the original church that stood here was destroyed on the command of Josef Stalin in 1931 due to the anti-religious campaign.

With its delightful golden dome, spires and dazzling white facades, the Christ the Savior Cathedral is stunning. The interior is just as captivating to wander around, with its beautifully tiled floors and impressive altar.

8. Lenin Mausoleum

Opened to the public in 1924, Lenin’s Mausoleum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Moscow. The red granite structure is located at the heart of the city in Red Square.

Lenin’s embalmed body lies in a glass sarcophagus; it is a somewhat eerie experience walking past the former leader of the Soviet Union but is well worth doing as you understandably can’t do it anywhere else in the world.

After visiting the mausoleum, head to the Kremlin wall right next to it for more graves of important communist figures such as Stalin and Brezhnev.

7. Tretyakov Gallery

Home to the most extensive and impressive collection of Russian fine art in the world, the State Tretyakov Gallery is definitely worth visiting when in Moscow for the wealth of amazing art pieces that it has on display.

Having started out as the private art collection of the Tretyakov brothers, there are now over 130,000 exhibits. Highlights include the iconic Theotokos of Vladimir which you will almost certainly recognise despite probably not knowing the name and Rublev’s Trinity which is considered to be one of highest achievements in Russian art.

An absolute must for art lovers, the State Tretyakov Gallery will delight visitors with all that is has to offer.

6. Kolomenskoye

Once a royal estate, Kolomenskoye is now a museum-reserve and lies a few kilometers outside of the city center. A captivating place to visit, there is a plethora of history on show and the site overlooks the Moskva River.

Consisting of four historical sites, there are extensive gardens for visitors to explore, as well as loads of interesting old buildings, the former village of Kolomenskoye itself and the impressive Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich – once considered the Eighth Wonder of the World by contemporaries.

Among the many stunning sights, it is the brilliantly white Ascension Church that is the undoubted highlight – dating back to 1532.

5. Gorky Park

Lying alongside the Moskva River, the huge Gorky Park is a lovely place to visit. Its extensive gardens are home to numerous cultural institutions and visitors should definitely check out the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art and while the eclectic exhibits may not always feature such incredible sights as a balloon-covered rider on a zebra; they certainly always succeed in pushing back the boundaries of art.

Pop-up exhibitions and festivals can be found from time to time in the park itself and there is an open-air theatre and numerous eateries alongside a plethora of leisure activities.

Whether it’s cycling, table tennis or yoga that you are after or beach volleyball and rowing, Gorky Park certainly has it. In winter, there is a huge ice rink for visitors to enjoy.

4. Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is the main theater in the country. The amazing opera and ballet performances it has put on over the centuries go a long way in explaining Russia’s rich history of performing arts.

While the Bolshoi Ballet Company was established in 1776, the theater itself was opened in 1825. The glittering, six-tier auditorium is lavishly and decadently decorated; it is a fitting setting for the world-class performances that take place on its stage.

Spending a night watching a performance of such classics as The Nutcracker or Swan Lake at the Bolshoi Theatre is sure to be a memorable experience and the beauty all around you only adds to the sense of occasion.

3. Moscow Kremlin

This famously fortified complex is remarkably home to five palaces and four cathedrals and is the historic, political and spiritual center of the city. The Kremlin serves as the residence for the country’s president. It has been used as a fort, and this fact is made clear by its sheer size. The Kremlin’s outer walls were built in the late 1400s.

Under Ivan III, better known as Ivan the Great, the Kremlin became the center of a unified Russian state, and was extensively remodeled. Three of the Kremlin’s cathedrals date to his reign that lasted from 1462-1505. The Deposition Church and the Palace of Facets were also constructed during this time. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower was built in 1508. It is the tallest tower at the Kremlin with a height of 266 feet (81 meters).

Joseph Stalin removed many of the relics from the tsarist regimes. However, the Tsar Bell, the world’s largest bell, and the Tsar Cannon, the largest bombard by caliber in the world, are among the remaining items from that era. The Kremlin Armory is one of Moscow’s oldest museums as it was established more than 200 years ago. Its diamond collection is impressive.

The Kremlin’s gardens – Taynitsky, Grand Kremlin Public and Alexander – are beautiful. The Kremlin has also served as the religious center of the country, and there is a tremendous number of preserved churches and cathedrals here. The collections contained within the museums include more than 60,000 historical, cultural and artistic monuments. Those who enjoy the performing arts will want to consider attending a ballet or concert at the State Kremlin Palace. Completed in 1961, it is the only modern building in the Kremlin.

2. Red Square

Lying at the heart of Moscow, Red Square is the most important and impressive square in the city. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions due to its wealth of historical sights and cultural landmarks.

Drenched in history, the huge square is home to incredible sights such as the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum, among others. Consequently, it is not to be missed when in Moscow as it really is home to the city’s most stunning monuments.

It is here that many important moments in Russian history took place; the former marketplace has hosted everything from Tsar’s coronations and public ceremonies to rock concerts and Soviet military parades. Wandering around the massive square is a humbling experience and undoubtedly one of the highlights the city has to offer.

1. Saint Basil’s Cathedral

Located in the impressive Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral is gorgeous; its delightful spires appear as if out of a fairytale. The most recognizable building in the country, the cathedral is very much a symbol of Russia. No visit to Moscow is complete without having taken in its unique and distinctive features.

Ivan the Terrible ordered the cathedral’s construction in the mid-16th century, and legend holds that Ivan put out the architect’s eyes so that he would be unable to build another cathedral more glorious than St. Basil’s. Designed to resemble the shape of a bonfire in full flame, the architecture is not only unique to the period in which it was built but to any subsequent period. For various reasons, both Napoleon and Stalin wanted to destroy the cathedral but fortunately did not succeed.

Known for its various colors, shapes and geometric patterns, St. Basil’s Cathedral houses nine different chapels that are all connected by a winding labyrinth of corridors and stairways. On the lower floor, St. Basil’s Chapel contains a silver casket bearing the body of St. Basil the Blessed.

Throughout the cathedral are many beautiful murals, frescoes, wooden icons and other art works and artifacts. Outside the cathedral is a lovely garden with the bronze Monument to Minin and Pozharsky, who rallied an all-volunteer Russian army against Polish invaders during a period of the late 16th century known as the Times of Troubles.

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Russia’s tourism, both in-bound and out-bound, is severely hit by the war-ravaged crisis that unfolded in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine late February. For more than two years, the tourism industry was badly affected due to the widespread Covid-19 that shattered the world. As Covid-19 largely subsided, the current Ukraine crisis is noticeably affecting the smooth operation of tourism business because of series of stringent sanctions.

In addition, at the height of the geopolitical confrontation, Russia appears not as a popular vacation destination and will likely remain so in the coming years as sanctions have drastically cut foreign travel especially to the United States and Europe for Russians.

Long before these two factors – Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine crisis, Russia moved away from its Soviet-style bureaucracy and red-taped procedures, making it comparatively easier for foreign tourists to visit the country. But now it could be described as a closed country, even the emerging multi-polar order with its basic principles of allowing foreign citizens, including those from the former Soviet republics, for ordinary visits.

Of course, Russia’s officialdom desires to protect its traditional culture, and therefore restricts foreign cultural group performances in Moscow and St. Petersburg as well as other provincial cities in the Russian Federation. At least, before the start of Covid-19 and the political differences with Ukraine, more Russians visited European and American cities than foreigners were allowed to cross into Russia.

Since last year, corporate directors of the hospitality industry have expressed their sentiments on the slow flow of clients, hotels are mostly half-empty and without sustainable tourism benefits. That however, Russian officials unreservedly blamed the collapse of tourism on Western sanctions.

Local Russian media reports highlighted the fact that popular destinations are still threatened by increasing anti-Western and anti-European rhetorics. It further indicated that the number of foreign tourists visiting Russia has drastically reduced especially last year due to the impact of Western sanctions imposed on the country following the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) in its latest review report indicated that only 200,100 foreigners visited Russia in 2022. According to the latest report, citing figures from border services, it was a drop of 96.1 percent from pre-pandemic years.

Several reasons were stated in the report. “The reasons are clear: the closed skies between Russia and the vast majority of European countries, as well as the impossibility to use foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard cards in Russia,” ATOR said.

Most of Europe closed its airspace to Russian planes a few days after the Kremlin launched the Ukraine offensive in February 2022. Beginning in March 2022, Russian national carrier Aeroflot suspended its international flights, though it gradually resumed travel to “friendly countries”.

But draconian Covid-related restrictions in China that Beijing only recently abandoned kept Chinese tourists from taking advantage of the situation. Before the pandemic Chinese tourists were the top visitors to Russia, accounting for around 30 percent of the 5.1 million total.

In 2022 only 842 Chinese tourists visited Russia. The number of international tourists in 2022 was even lower than in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the country recorded 335,800 and 288,300 visits in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Tourists from Germany, Turkey and Iran topped the 2022 rankings. Even if 25,400 German tourists visited in 2022, this still represented about 20 times less visitors than in 2019.

Russia has been struggling to fix, at least, its domestic (internal) tourism. Early February, Transportation Minister Vitaly Savelyev said at a meeting on developing domestic tourism with President Vladimir Putin that his ministry plans to boost the services of Russian airlines with incentives for more potential passengers in 2023.

The aim, he noted, is raise the total volume of traffic and that could be adjusted slightly when accounting for an extended closure of the 11 airports in southern Russia. Savelyev said that airline passenger traffic exceeded 95 million travelers in 2022. As such, the ministry expects the indicator to grow 6% this year.

But the Federal Security Service (FSB)’s Border Service additionally explained in its statistical report that approximately 200,000 foreign tourists visited Russia in 2022, down 28.8% from the previous year.

Most of the tourists came from Germany (25,300, or 33.4% fewer than the year before), followed by Turkey with 22,600 tourists (down 2.5%) and Iran with 14,600 tourists, up 25 times from 2021.

Also in the top five are Kazakhstan (13,270 tourists) and Cuba (11,300). They are followed by Uzbekistan (8,860), Kyrgyzstan (6,600), India (6,400), the United States (5,580) and Armenia (5,200). In addition, Israel, Latvia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Azerbaijan, South Korea, Turkmenistan, Italy, France and Lithuania are in the top 20.

Inbound tourism in Russia drastically fell amid the coronavirus pandemic. The border closure in 2020 cut tourist arrivals 93%, compared to 2019 when Russia was visited by over 5 million foreign tourists. There were 288,000 foreign tourist arrivals in Russia in 2021, or 14% less than in 2020.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu called for an early resumption of tourist trips between the two countries at a meeting in Moscow early February, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Given the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, the parties expressed the common view that it would be reasonable to restore people-to-people contact and tourist trips between our countries,” the statement reads.

In order to save the industry, President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with cabinet members on January 24. The Kremlin said that development of domestic tourism in 2023 was the key topic of the meeting agenda. Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev and Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov participated with reports.

The United States and Europe are relatively closed to Russians. For example, thousands of Russian tourists visit Thailand’s beach resorts. There are external Asian countries such as Thailand, The Philippines, India and Vietnam ready to promote tourism. The Russia-Ukraine crisis with Europe might further push Russian tourists for popular destinations in Asia and a few destinations in Africa. Thus, Russia is feverishly looking to develop and promote domestic tourism.

According to statistics, Russian tourists spent over $300 billion abroad over the past 20 years, and their money could build domestic tourism infrastructure. Experts also argue that the Russian tourism infrastructure has been demonstrating some growth over the past year, and it is important not to lose this pace under the current circumstances in the world.

Federal Agency for Tourism, which promotes tours both domestic and foreign, underscored steps being taken by the Russian government to put tourism on track including subsidy offers for local destinations, an effort towards encouraging and promoting domestic tourism, which are safe and have comfortable conditions for Russian tourists, during the forthcoming seasons.

Analysts expect tourism business to develop considerably inside Russia. On the other side, the protracted Ukraine war threatens several tourist destinations that rely on Russian visitors. But judging from above, it is unlikely both Russia’s in-bound and out-bound tourism will soon witness significant improvement. Generally, Russians have to change attitudes to be more interactive, simplify travel rules and regulations for visiting the country. Russia has divided the world into two: “friendly” and “non-friendly” countries.

Industry experts suggested that Russian officials have to acknowledge the fact that travel and tourism connect people and bring the world closer through shared experiences, cultural awareness and community building. It provides jobs, spurs regional development, and is a key driver for socio-economic progress. Without these, Russia, of course, has the sovereign right to choose between the emerging multi-polar and an isolated world. Russia’s membership has been stripped off international organizations. The Executive Council has proposed a possible suspension of Russia’s membership from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

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Fine Living

Moscow Became the Best Travel Destination of 2019

Apart from Moscow, the category featured such cities as London, New York, Lisbon, Paris, Saint Petersburg, Sidney, Rio de Janeiro, and others. The awards ceremony took place in the city of Muscat, Oman, on November, 28. “World Travel Awards is a quality mark, and it means that Moscow is consolidating its positions as one of the world’s travel capitals. Moscow has a rich history and culture, it is a city with one of the biggest economies of the world, a huge busy metropolis. Tourists coming to Moscow from all parts of the world get positive impressions, unique experience and feel comfortable and secure. The best proof is the appraisal of travelers who voted for our city along with the world travel industry professionals. It is a great honor for us to win such a prestigious award! I am sure that we have many global wins ahead!”,– Yekaterina Pronicheva, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, said.

Moscow was nominated to the World Travel Awards 2019 in three major categories: “World’s Leading City Destination”, World’s Leading Festival & Event Destination, and World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination. Additionally, the award organizers nominated Moscow in two more categories: World's Leading Business Travel Destination and World's Leading Cultural City Destination. Winners were chosen in an open vote held at the Award’s official site until October 20.

In 2019, World Travel Awards have been granted in 80 categories. The winners are hotels, airlines, tour operators, cities, resorts, and attractions. All in all, there were more than 1,000 participants in 2019.

Except for Moscow, among Russian participants in different categories were cities (Kazan, Saint Petersburg), airlines (Aeroflot), hotels (Mamaison All-Suites Spa Hotel Pokrovka, Radisson Royal Hotel, Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy, Lotte Hotel), restaurants (City Space) and tourist companies (Academservice).

In 2019, Moscow’s tourist flow has been growing. During the first 9 months of 2019, Moscow received 19.5 million tourists. During this period, Moscow received 753.8 thousand tourists from China, 267.8 thousand from Germany, 121.7 thousand from France, 118.4 thousand from Italy and 113.6 thousand from Israel.

The most typical guests of Moscow – people younger than 34 y.o., so-called “millennials” (the generation born between 1981 and 1996) – are the most active visitors. They visit the capital to get new impressions; they are attracted by numerous festivals, sporting events, and cultural scenes.

The capital currently has 1,718 hotels. The annual occupancy rate of the capital’s properties equals 77 %, which is comparable with that of Amsterdam, London, and Paris. Moscow is also a traditional point of tourist interest on the New Year holidays. Four and five-star hotels near Tverskaya Street are the top performers: 95 % of their rooms are occupied during the New Year holidays.

In Moscow, there are 1,691 certified guides and interpreters who conduct tours in 26 different languages, and 1,972 guides who conduct tours in Russian and work for the local travel market.

Marina Zatsepina, with more than 15 years experience in Marketing in Tourism Industry, Marina is our expert in promotion on the Russian market. She worked in position of Marketing Director in one of the biggest tour operators in Russia, before to organize in partnership with Natalia Klimenok it's own enterprise. She graduated from Penza State University (Russia) with specialization in Public Relations, and has Master Degree in Russian-English Translation from Kent State University (USA). Recently Marina works in BAGINET PR and Consulting Agency as Commercial Director.

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Unesco social media, kremlin and red square, moscow.

Description

Inextricably linked to all the most important historical and political events in Russia since the 13th century, the Kremlin (built between the 14th and 17th centuries by outstanding Russian and foreign architects) was the residence of the Great Prince and also a religious centre. At the foot of its ramparts, on Red Square, St Basil's Basilica is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Le Kremlin et la place Rouge, Moscou

Indissolublement lié à tous les événements historiques et politiques les plus importants survenus en Russie depuis le XIII e siècle, le Kremlin a été construit entre le XIV e et le XVII e siècle par des architectes russes et étrangers exceptionnels. C'était la résidence du grand-prince ainsi qu'un centre religieux. Au pied de ses remparts, sur la place Rouge, s'élève la basilique Basile-le-Bienheureux, l'un des plus beaux monuments de l'art orthodoxe.

الكرملين والساحة الحمراء، موسكو

يرتبط الكرملين ارتباطاً وثيقاً بجميع الأحداث التاريخيّة والسياسيّة المهمّة التي توالت على روسيا منذ القرن الثالث عشر ولقد جرى تشييده بين القرنين الرابع والسابع عشر على يد مهندسين روس وأجانب استثنائيين. وكان الكرملين مقرّ الأمير الكبير كما كان مركزاً دينيّاً. عند أسفل أسواره في الساحة الحمراء شيدت بازيليك القديس بازيل وهي من أروع تحف الفنّ الأرثوذكسي.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

莫斯科克里姆林宫和红场

由俄罗斯和外国建筑家于14世纪至17世纪共同修建的克里姆林宫，作为沙皇的住宅和宗教中心，与13世纪以来俄罗斯所有最重要的历史事件和政治事件密不可分。在红场上防御城墙的脚下坐落的圣瓦西里教堂是俄罗斯传统艺术最漂亮的代表作之一。

El kremlin y la Plaza Roja de Moscú

Indisolublemente vinculado a los más trascendentales acontecimientos históricos y políticos de Rusia desde el siglo XIII, el kremlin de Moscú fue construido entre los siglos XIV y XVII por toda una serie de excelentes arquitectos rusos y extranjeros. Además de ser la residencia del Gran Príncipe, fue un importante centro religioso. Al pie de sus murallas, en la Plaza Roja, se alza la basílica de San Basilio el Bienaventurado, uno de los más hermosos monumentos de arte ortodoxo.

モスクワのクレムリンと赤の広場

source: NFUAJ

Kremlin en Rode Plein, Moskou

Het Kremlin is onlosmakelijk verbonden met alle belangrijke historische en politieke gebeurtenissen in Rusland sinds de 13e eeuw. Het werd door de Grote Prins Yuri van Kiev gesticht als residentie en religieus centrum. De bouw vond plaats tussen de 14e en 17e eeuw en het ontwerp was in handen van uitstekende Russische en buitenlandse architecten. Binnen de muren van het Kremlin vindt men een reeks meesterwerken qua architectuur, maar ook beeldende kunst en religieuze monumenten van uitzonderlijke schoonheid. Aan de voet van de stadsmuren, op het Rode Plein, bevindt zich een van de mooiste Russisch-orthodoxe monumenten, de Pokrovkathedraal ook wel Basiliuskathedraal genoemd.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

At the geographic and historic centre of Moscow, the Moscow Kremlin is the oldest part of the city. First mentioned in the Hypatian Chronicle in 1147 as a fortification erected on the left bank of the Moskva river by Yuri Dolgoruki, Prince of Suzdal, the Kremlin developed and grew with settlements and suburbs which were further surrounded by new fortifications - Kitaigorodsky Wall, Bely Gorod, Zemlyanoy Gorod and others. This determined a radial and circular plan of the centre of Moscow typical of many other Old Russian cities.

In 13th century the Kremlin was the official residence of supreme power - the center of temporal and spiritual life of the state. The Kremlin of the late 15th – early 16th century is one of the major fortifications of Europe (the stone walls and towers of present day were erected in 1485–1516). It contains an ensemble of monuments of outstanding quality.

The most significant churches of the Moscow Kremlin are situated on the Cathedral Square; they are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki. Almost all of them were designed by invited Italian architects which is clearly seen in their architectural style. The five-domed Assumption Cathedral (1475–1479) was built by an Italian architect Aristotele Fiorvanti. Its interior is decorated with frescos and a five-tier iconostasis (15th–17th century). The cathedral became the major Russian Orthodox church; a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars and emperors as well as the shrine for metropolitans and patriarchs.

In the same square another Italian architect, Alevisio Novi, erected the five-domed Church of the Archangel in 1505-1508. From the 17th to 19th century, its interior was decorated by wonderful frescos and an iconostasis. In this church many great princes and tsars of Moscow are buried. Among them are Ivan I Kalita, Dmitri Donskoi, Ivan III, Ivan IV the Terrible, Mikhail Fedorovich and Alexei Mikhailovich Romanovs.

The Cathedral of the Dormition was built by Pskov architects in 1484–1489. Inside the cathedral some mural paintings of 16th–19th century have been preserved and the icons of Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek are part of the iconostasis.

In 1505-1508 the bell tower of Ivan Veliki was built. Being 82 metres high it was the highest building in Russia which became the focal point of the Kremlin ensemble.

Among the oldest civil buildings of the Moscow Kremlin, the Palace of the Facets (1487–1491) is the most remarkable. Italian architects Marco Fryazin and Pietro Antonio Solario built it as a great hall for holding state ceremonies, celebrations and for receiving foreign ambassadors. The most noteworthy civil construction of the 17th century built by Russian masters is the Teremnoi Palace.

From the early 18th century, when the capital of Russia moved to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin mainly played a ceremonial role with religious functions. By the end of the century the architectural complex of the Kremlin expanded with the Arsenal reconstructed after the Fire of 1797 by Matvei Kazakov. The Senate was built in 1776–1787 according to the plans of the same architect as the home of the highest agency of State power of the Russian Empire - the Ruling Senate. Today it is the residence of the President of Russia.

From 1839 to 1849 a Russian architect K.A. Thon erected the Great Kremlin Palace as a residence of the imperial family which combined ancient Kremlin buildings such as the Palace of the Facets, the Tsarina’s Golden Chamber, Master Chambers, the Teremnoi Palace and the Teremnoi churches. In the Armory Chamber built by K.A. Thon within the complex of the Great Kremlin Palace, there is a 16th century museum officially established by the order of Alexander I in 1806.

Red Square, closely associated with the Kremlin, lies beneath its east wall. At its south end is the famous Pokrovski Cathedral (Cathedral of St Basil the Blessed), one of the most beautiful monuments of Old Russian church architecture, erected in 1555–1560 to commemorate the victory of Ivan the Terrible over the Kazan Khanate. In the 17th century the cathedral gained its up-to-date appearance thanks to the decorative finishing of the domes and painting both inside and outside the cathedral. The construction of Red Square was finished by the late 19th century together with the erection of the Imperial Historic Museum (today the State Historical Museum), the Upper Trading Rows (GUM) and the Middle Trading Rows. In 1929, , Lenin’s Mausoleum, designed by A.V. Shchusev and an outstanding example of the Soviet monumental architecture, was finished.

Criterion (i) : The Kremlin contains within its walls a unique series of masterpieces of architecture and the plastic arts. There are religious monuments of exceptional beauty such as the Church of the Annunciation, the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Church of the Archangel and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki; there are palaces such as the Great Palace of the Kremlin, which comprises within its walls the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin and the Teremnoi Palace. On Red Square is Saint Basil the Blessed, still a major edifice of Russian Orthodox art.

Criterion (ii) : Throughout its history, Russian architecture has clearly been affected many times by influences emanating from the Kremlin. A particular example was the Italian Renaissance. The influence of the style was clearly felt when Rudolfo Aristotele Fioravanti built the Cathedral of the Dormition (1475-79) and grew stronger with the construction of the Granovitaya Palace (Hall of the Facets, 1487-91) by Marco Fryazin and Pietro Antonio Solario. Italian Renaissance also influenced the towers of the fortified enceinte, built during the same period by Solario, using principles established by Milanese engineers (the Nikolskaya and the Spasskaya Towers both date from 1491). The Renaissance expression was even more present in the classic capitals and shells of the Church of the Archangel, reconstructed from 1505 to 1509 by Alevisio Novi.

Criterion (iv) : With its triangular enceinte pierced by four gates and reinforced with 20 towers, the Moscow Kremlin preserves the memory of the wooden fortifications erected by Yuri Dolgoruki around 1156 on the hill at the confluence of the Moskova and Neglinnaya rivers (the Alexander Garden now covers the latter). By its layout and its history of transformations (in the 14th century Dimitri Donskoi had an enceinte of logs built, then the first stone wall), the Moscow Kremlin is the prototype of a Kremlin - the citadel at the centre of Old Russian towns such as Pskov, Tula, Kazan or Smolensk.

Criterion (vi) : From the 13th century to the founding of St Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin was directly and tangibly associated with every major event in Russian history. A 200-year period of obscurity ended in 1918 when it became the seat of government again. The Mausoleum of Lenin on Red Square is the Soviet Union’s prime example of symbolic monumental architecture. To proclaim the universal significance of the Russian revolution, the funerary urns of heroes of the revolution were incorporated into the Kremlin’s walls between the Nikolskaya and Spasskaya towers. The site thus combines in an exceptional manner the preserved vestiges of bygone days with present-day signs of one of the greatest events in modern history.

From the date of including the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square on the World Heritage List all the components representing the Outstanding Universal Value of the property are within its boundaries. The territory and the integrity of the World Heritage property have also remained unchanged. Within its boundaries the property still comprises all the elements that it contained at the date of nomination. The biggest threat, however, is unregulated commercial development of the adjacent areas.

Authenticity

The history of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square is reflected in the archival documents of 12th–19th century, for example in medieval chronicles, cadastral surveys, estimated construction books, painted lists, inventories, foreign notes and in graphic matters such as manuscripts, chronicles, plans, drafts, engravings, lithographs, sketches of foreign travelers, paintings and photographs. These documents are exceptionally valuable information sources. Comparison of the data received from archival documents and those obtained in the process of field study gives the idea of authenticity of the property and its different elements. This comparison also serves as the basis for project development and for the choice of the appropriate methods of restoration that may preserve the monuments’ authenticity.

On the border of the ensemble a number of monuments destroyed in the 1930s were reconstructed according to measured plans.

Protection and management requirements

The statutory and institutional framework of an effective protection, management and improvement of the World Heritage property “Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow” has been established by laws and regulations of the Russian Federation and the city of Moscow.

According to the decree of the President of RSFSR of 18 December 1991 № 294, the Moscow Kremlin was included among especially protected cultural properties of nations of Russia - the highest conservation status for cultural and historical monuments in Russian legislation.

“Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow” is a Cultural Heritage Site of federal importance. State protection and management of federal sites is provided by Federal Law of 25.06.2002 № 73-FZ “On cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of nations of the Russian Federation”. The federal executive body responsible for protection of the cultural property is the Department for Control, Supervision and Licensing in the Cultural Heritage Sphere of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.It is in charge of all methodological and control functions concerning restoration, usage and support of cultural heritage sites and the territories connected.

The World Heritage property is situated in the urban environment of Moscow. The city policy regarding cultural heritage protection and town-planning regulation is the responsibility of Moscow City Government, represented by the Department of Cultural Heritage, the Department of Urban Development and the Committee for Urban Development and Architecture of Moscow. In 1997 the boundaries of the protective (buffer) zone were approved in order to preserve the property, and to maintain and restore the historical architectural environment as well as the integral visual perception of the property.. There is a need to ensure the creation of an appropriate buffer zone and to develop close liaison between all stakeholders, including the Moscow City authorities, to ensure that constructions around the property do not impact adversely on its Outstanding Universal Value.

The World Heritage property is used by the following organizations: FGBUK (Federal Government Budgetary Institution of Culture), the State Historical and Cultural Museum-preserve “The Moscow Kremlin”, the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Guard Service of the Russian Federation and OJSC “GUM Department Store”.

Official site of 'The Moscow Kremlin' State Historical and Cultural Museum and Heritage Site
Moscow Kremlin Museums Telegram Group (in Russian only)
Moscow Kremlin Museums VKontakte Page (in Russian only)
Moscow Kremlin Museums Dzen Page (in Russian only)
State Historical Museum VKontakte Group (in Russian only)
Msk Guide Page (in Russian only)
Official site of the State Department Store
State Historical Museum (in Russian only)

The Nomination files produced by the States Parties are published by the World Heritage Centre at its website and/or in working documents in order to ensure transparency, access to information and to facilitate the preparations of comparative analysis by other nominating States Parties.

The sole responsibility for the content of each Nomination file lies with the State Party concerned. The publication of the Nomination file, including the maps and names, does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the World Heritage Committee or of the Secretariat of UNESCO concerning the history or legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries.

State of Conservation (SOC)

Eurasia Review

A Journal of Analysis and News

North Caucasus regions within the Russian Federation. Source: Wikipedia Commons.

Moscow Orders Air Strikes In KBR As Medvedev Promotes Tourism In Region

By Paul Goble

Russian military aircraft struck targets in Kabardino-Balkaria where battles between the militants who killed a group of tourists last week and Russian forces have intensified, even as President Dmitry Medvedev promised that Moscow will continue to promote the development of tourism in that republic in advance of the Sochi Olympics.

Over the past week, following an attack on tourists visiting the republic, violence in Kabardino-Balkaria has escalated to the point that yesterday, Russian officials said that they not only had introduced additional forces to try to hunt down and eliminate the militants but had called in airstrikes against them (www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/181424/).

Given the worsening of conditions there –for a chronology, see kabardino-balkaria.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/172027/ — that came as no surprise, but this action had the unintended consequence of highlighting Medvedev’s visit to Vladikavkaz and his statement that Moscow would continue to promote the development of tourism in KBR and across the region.

According to the Russian president, “the implementation of the program of the development of the Caucasus republics and of its touristic component will be continued, despite the bandit attacks,” a measure necessary both to combat extremism and to reassure everyone that the Sochi Games will be held in 2014 (www.islamrf.ru/news/russia/rusnews/15204/).

Indeed, Medvedev said, developing the tourist industry will “give work places which is sespecially important for young people that the extremists recruit and then zombify.” And that along with social and educational programs and promoting traditional Russian Islam is the best way to overcome the terrorist threat.

While the president’s aides suggested that the expanded use of military power and the introduction of a counter-terrorist regime in KBR was not an act of revenge, Medvedev himself was blunt: Thos among the militants “who are prepared to change must get the chance [but] those who want blood must drown in their own … No other approaches are possible.”

In a comment on these latest developments in the KBR, Sergey Markedonov, one of Russia’s most thoughtful commentators on the North Caucasus, argues that the situation in that previously quiet republic “with each day ever more recalls the situation in Daghestan or in Ingushetia,” two traditionally more unstable places (www.politcom.ru/11484.html).

And he observes that “while the series of crimes in the KBR has received incomparably less time in the federal channesl than did the terrorist act at [Moscow’s] Domodedovo, by their importance, the explosions and murders [in KBR] completely compare with the tragedy in the very largest Russian airport.”

The KBR events, he points out, “drive people to one and the same conclusion … Russia as a country is dangerous for tourism and for the movement about of foreigners and its own citizens,” a conclusion with obvious consequences for the scheduled Olympic games in Sochi because “one need not be a great geographer” to see how close KBR and Sochi are.

In the period since the 2005 terrorist incident in Nalchik, officials in KBR have adopted a variety of measures to try to rein in the militants, but the latest events show, Markedonov argues, that this approach has not worked either and that problems, ethnic, economic and political, are all growing.

Especially important for an understanding of what is happening in KBR is the increasing tension between the two titular nationalities, the Kabards (a sub-group of the Circassians) and the Turkic Kabards. The latter have been protesting against the republic government for almost a year, and recently, the Balkar Elders Council accused the KBR president of fomenting terrorism.

Given their anger, the Balkars have even called on President Medvedev to introduce “direct federal rule” in KBR, something that almost certainly would make the situation in KBR even worse by transforming an intra-republic problem into a conflict between the republic and Moscow itself.

But even if that step is not taken, there is a bigger and more seirous problem, Markedonov suggests. Increasingly, “the population of the republic, observing the unleashingof a spiral of force, is beginning to understand that it can count only on itself to protect life, property, and human dignity.”

That has led some to form their own self-defense groups, including the much-ballyhooed Anti-Wahhabi Black Hawk organization, a shadowy group that nonetheless has proclaimed as its goal taking up the fight against Islamists. Carefully controlled, such a group might help the powers that be. On its own, it will further undercut their influence.

Regardless of what form an expanded federal presence takes, Markedonov concludes, “it is time ot understand that under this term must be included not only a strengthening of road blocks and check points but also systemic work toward the integration of the region into the all-Russian space.”

If that doesn’t happen – and the events of the last few days, despite Medvedev’s promises, do not give much hope, then “the atomization inside the republic will only strengthen the extremist tendencies [there] and the amount of force” that both the local people and the federal forces will have to expand.

That Moscow may be prepared to make that investment given Vladimir Putin’s commitment to holding the Sochi Games on schedule in 2014 should not be doubted, but the mere application of the kind of force that the Russian center has used up to now may be like throwing water on a grease fire.

At the very least, Markedonov’s argument suggests, the continuing application of force in response to a growing militant campaign may make ever more people in Russia and beyond doubt the wisdom of holding an Olympiad next door to such a place or — if the games nonetheless take place — reconsider plans to visit.

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Paul Goble is a longtime specialist on ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia. Most recently, he was director of research and publications at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy. Earlier, he served as vice dean for the social sciences and humanities at Audentes University in Tallinn and a senior research associate at the EuroCollege of the University of Tartu in Estonia. He has served in various capacities in the U.S. State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency and the International Broadcasting Bureau as well as at the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Mr. Goble maintains the Window on Eurasia blog and can be contacted directly at [email protected] .

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