TIME
GMT plus three hours; summertime (generally same dates as mainland Europe) plus one hour
TELEPHONE
IDD country code 7
Moscow 095
The past 12 months of the 'Westernising boom' in Russia has effectively removed barriers in international communication. The Iron Curtain no longer snags international calls from Moscow, particularly if you are staying in one of the recently opened modern luxury hotels, such as the Palace Hotel or Balchug Kempinski. AT & T, Combellga and Motorola are just some of a dozen companies that offer direct access to a satellite system, mobile phones and fast toll-free international calls from any local numbers.
To call inside Russia, simply dial 8 followed by the city code (including the initial 0, even in the same city). There are a few telephone directories in Russia. If you speak Russian, dial 09 for information, if not try 2 71 91 03 and you may find someone who speaks your language. Tracking down a residential telephone number is virtually impossible.
All telephone numbers listed below take the code 095 unless stated otherwise.
EMERGENCIES
Fire 01
Police 02
Medical help 03
EMBASSIES
Canada 241 9155
France 236 0003
Germany 252 5521
Japan 291 8500
UK 231 8511
US 252 2451
CREDIT CARDS
American Express 254 4495
WEATHER
Moscow has a continental climate, with temperatures as high as 40°C in summer and as low as -30°C in winter. Expect the mid 30s in August and between 0°C and 10°C in January
COMMERCIAL HOURS
Vary widely, but generally:
Banks Nearly 300 banks operate 9.00-18.30 providing all-round banking services
Bank Austria 19 Dolgorukovskaya St Tel 956 3000 Fax 956 3003
Citibank, NY 7 Masha Poryvayeva St Tel 207 2629 Fax 208 6822
Credit Lyonnais 4/17 Pokrovsky Blvd Tel 207 6489 Fax 230 6066
Deutsche Bank AG 23 Ostozhenka St Tel 201 2988 Fax 200 1227
Bureaux de change Found all over the city, usually open 9.00-19.30. Among the most reliable and safe 24-hour bureaux: Olympic Penta Hotel; Palace Hotel and its nearby public bureau de change at 45 Second Brestskaya St.
Offices Wide variations, but safe to assume doors are open 9.00-18.00
Shops State food-stores 8.00-20.00 with a break 13.00-14.00, non-food shops 10.00-20.00 with a break 14.00-15.00. The best product is in quality supermarkets, like Arbat Irish House, Kalinka-Stockman, Three Fat Men 10.00-21.00 (no break), plus a dozen all-night shops.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 1995
1, 2 & 7 January, 23 February, 8 March, 1, 2 & 9 May, 12 June, 7 October
BEST GUIDE BOOKS & MAPS
Free English-language dailies Moscow Times and Moscow Tribune give the most concise information about Moscow/Russia for the Western community; both include valuable cultural sections and are readily available in major hotels, restaurants, airports and bureaux de change.
The Moscow Business Telephone Guide is a free publication and contains a computerised data-base of shops, services, companies restaurants and bars in Moscow as well as the most accurate city map.
ELECTRIC CURRENT
220 volts/AC 50 cycles
TRADING PLACES
TV NETWORKS
Russian State TV & Radio Company
12 Korolyeva St, Moscow 127000 Tel 217 7910 Fax 883 3385
Russian State TV & Radio Company (RTR - Channel 2)
19-21 5th Ulitza Yamskogo Polya, Moscow 125124 Tel 214 4978 Fax 955 8244 Telex 411252
NTV (Russian's first independent & commercial private TV station)
36 Novyi Arbat, Moscow 121102 Tel 290 7077 Fax 203 2976
2 x 2
12 Ulitza Korolyeva Moscow 127000 Tel 215 6335 Fax 283 8814
INDUSTRY EVENTS 1995
Moscow International Film Festival
16-29 July
10 Kholovsky Per, 109028 Moscow Tel 227 8924 Fax 227 0107 Telex 411263 Fest SU Dir Yuri Khodjaev
Kinotaur Open International Festival/Market
28 May-19 June
Kinotaur Studios, 35 Arbat, Moscow 121835 Tel 248 0911 Fax 200 4284
Golden Duke Film Festival
1-19 October
POPULATION
