The passenger should not sit in the front seat and should lock the doors immediately upon entering the car. It can also be dangerous to expose valuables while riding in a taxi or to take a taxi while intoxicated. Extortion and corruption are common in the business environment. Organized criminal groups target foreign businesses in many cities and have been known to demand protection money under threat of serious violence. Many western firms hire security services which have improved their overall security, although this is no guarantee.
Small businesses are particularly vulnerable.
Over the past several years, several American business people have been attacked, kidnapped, and even killed. We encourage U.S. citizens to report all extortion attempts to the Russian authorities and to inform consular officials at the U.S. Embassy or the nearest Consulate General. Police are usually cooperative, but often ineffective. Many crime victims are frustrated by the lack of responsiveness and enforcement capabilities of the local police and judiciary. This situation is more acute outside Russia's major cities.