Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Russian visa problems

The story is so stupid and ridiculous that it is not worth to be told. However some folk insist on explanations. Here they are.
I wanted to spend July-August mainly in Siberia -- floating on Yenisey and Lena Rivers, Kamchatka, Sakhalin, etc. A tourist visa to Russia (which is not easy to obtain eiher) cannot be granted for more than 1 month. So my only option was a business visa, for which an invitation from a Russian company is required.
Search on www.google.com "Visas for Russia" gives many options. At first I contacted about 15 companies, got about 7 replies, of which only one was practically positive, but later was withdrawn.
My second attempt at about 15 other companies brought about 5 positive replies, some of them with exhorbitant prices and doubtful reliability. Eventually I have chosen a travel agency in Izhevsk (I planned to visit Udmurtia anyway), sent $85 and received an invitation on internet. As the invitation must mention the place of my visa application, I have chosen for this purpose Russian Embassy in Beijing.
After visiting it I discovered that this embassy has a regulation (since April 2004)to grant visas ONLY to Chinese cirtizens or foreigners with the status of permanent resident in China. I was flatly denied visa on that ground with the recommendation to apply at the US.
Though I may try for another time in Ulaan-Bataar, Mongolia, the invitation lists Beijing, not to mention that the summer months pass very fast. And frankly after all those troubles, expenses, and ruined plans my interest in visiting Russia is being faded.
That is the whole story
Are you satisfied?
Your Leo

Thursday, June 17, 2004

Beijing. June 17, 2004

[Ed: this message was corrupted, I'm copying it here in hopes of decyphering it later]

╖ё╖я╖ч ╖з╖ы╖с╖ж╖Ц╖Д╖ъ╖Ю ╖ч╖Ю╖в ╖Ц╖Д╖Б╖я╖Ц╖Д╖ъ╖Ю╖ж ╖ь╖ж╖щ╖я╖ъ╖з╖ж ╖А╖Ю╖р╖М╖с╖я╖Д╖Н ╖с╖ж╖ы╖у╖ж ╖з ╖Е╖с╖з╖у╖ж╖Д╖Н ╖с╖Ц╖в.
╖╠╖Ю╖Ц╖э╖Ю╖щ╖Н╖э╖Е ╖Я ╖с╖Ц╖ж╖т╖у╖я ╖р╖М╖щ ╖Е╖с╖ж╖Б╖ж╖ъ, ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖с ╖Б╖я╖ш ╖ч╖ж╖ъ╖Я ╖ъ╖ж ╖А╖Е╖Ц╖Д╖Я╖Д ╖ъ╖з ╖А╖Б╖з ╖э╖я╖э╖з╖Г ╖Ю╖р╖Ц╖Д╖Ю╖Я╖Д╖ж╖щ╖Н╖Ц╖Д╖с╖я╖Г, ╖Я ╖с╖Ц╖в ╖с╖Б╖ж╖ч╖Я ╖ъ╖Ю╖Б╖Ю╖с╖з╖щ ╖с╖ы╖т╖щ╖Я╖ъ╖Е╖Д╖Н ╖ъ╖я ╖Б╖я╖ш╖Ц╖э╖Е╖П ╖ь╖з╖ы╖ъ╖Н ╖Г╖Ю╖Д╖Я ╖р╖М ╖Ц╖р╖Ю╖э╖Е ╖Ю╖у╖ъ╖з╖ч ╖т╖щ╖я╖ы╖э╖Ю╖ч. ╖╛╖я╖э ╖с╖М ╖ы╖ъ╖я╖ж╖Д╖ж, ╖А╖Ю╖э╖я ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖р╖ж╖ы╖Е╖Ц╖А╖ж╖Й╖ъ╖Ю.
╖╞╖Ю ╖с ╖А╖Ю╖Ц╖щ╖ж╖у╖ъ╖ж╖ж ╖р╖Б╖ж╖ч╖Я ╖Я ╖ъ╖ж╖Ц╖э╖Ю╖щ╖Н╖э╖Ю ╖Б╖я╖ы ╖Ц╖ч╖М╖щ ╖Ц╖с╖Ю╖з ╖А╖Б╖ж╖ь╖ъ╖з╖ж ╖т╖Б╖ж╖Г╖з ╖з ╖Ц╖Д╖я╖щ ╖Д╖я╖э╖з╖ч ╖у╖Ю╖р╖Б╖Ю╖у╖ж╖Д╖ж╖щ╖Н╖ъ╖М╖ч, ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖ъ╖я╖И╖я╖щ ╖Ц╖Ю╖ч╖ъ╖ж╖с╖я╖Д╖Н╖Ц╖Я, ╖Е╖у╖я╖Ц╖Д╖Ц╖Я ╖щ╖з ╖ч╖ъ╖ж ╖А╖Ю╖р╖М╖с╖я╖Д╖Н ╖с ╖я╖у╖Е. ╖╠╖Ю╖Ц╖ж╖ч╖Е ╖Я ╖Б╖ж╖Й╖з╖щ ╖ъ╖я ╖с╖Ц╖Я╖э╖з╖ш ╖Ц╖щ╖Е╖И╖я╖ш ╖ы╖я╖т╖щ╖Я╖ъ╖Е╖Д╖Н ╖Д╖Е╖у╖я ╖ы╖я╖Б╖я╖ъ╖ж╖ж ╖Г╖Ю╖Д╖Я ╖р╖М ╖Ц╖р╖Ю╖э╖Е ╖Ю╖у╖ъ╖з╖ч ╖т╖щ╖я╖ы╖э╖Ю╖ч. ╖╠╖Ю╖О╖Д╖Ю╖ч╖Е ╖Я ╖А╖Ю╖А╖М╖Д╖я╖щ╖Ц╖Я ╖ы╖я╖А╖Ю╖щ╖Е╖И╖з╖Д╖Н ╖Б╖Ю╖Ц╖Ц╖з╖ш╖Ц╖э╖Е╖П ╖с╖з╖ы╖Е ╖у╖щ╖Я ╖А╖Ю╖Ц╖ж╖К╖ж╖ъ╖з╖Я ╖Ё╖з╖р╖з╖Б╖з. ╖Ё ╖А╖Б╖з╖Ц╖э╖Ю╖Б╖р╖з╖ж╖ч ╖р╖М╖ъ╖Е╖ь╖у╖ж╖ъ ╖с╖я╖ч ╖Ц╖Ю╖Ю╖р╖К╖з╖Д╖Н, ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖з ╖О╖Д╖я ╖ч╖Ю╖Я ╖А╖Ю╖А╖М╖Д╖э╖я ╖ы╖я╖э╖Ю╖ъ╖И╖з╖щ╖я╖Ц╖Н ╖А╖Б╖Ю╖с╖я╖щ╖Ю╖ч. ╖╞╖ж╖Ц╖ч╖Ю╖Д╖Б╖Я ╖ъ╖я ╖А╖Ю╖э╖Е╖А╖э╖Е ╖А╖Б╖з╖т╖щ╖я╖Й╖ж╖ъ╖з╖Я ╖Ю╖Д ╖Б╖Ю╖Ц╖Ц╖з╖ш╖Ц╖э╖Ю╖ш ╖Ф╖з╖Б╖ч╖М (╖А╖Ю ╖з╖ъ╖Д╖ж╖Б╖ъ╖ж╖Д╖Е ╖ы╖я ╖А╖Б╖з╖щ╖з╖И╖ъ╖Е╖П ╖ч╖ы╖у╖Е) ╖А╖Ю╖Ц╖Ю╖щ╖Н╖Ц╖Д╖с╖Ю ╖╡╖Ю╖Ц╖Ц╖з╖з ╖с ╖╠╖ж╖э╖з╖ъ╖ж ╖с ╖ё╖╙╖╘╖╕ ╖╝╖╞╖╕ ╖╟╖╢╖╛╖║╖╘╖║╖╜╖╟.
╖╞╖М╖ъ╖ж ╖с╖Ц╖ж ╖ч╖Ю╖з ╖А╖щ╖я╖ъ╖М ╖Б╖я╖ы╖р╖з╖Д╖М -- ╖з ╖Ц╖с╖Ю╖з ╖у╖я╖щ╖Н╖ъ╖ж╖ш╖Й╖з╖ш ╖ч╖я╖Б╖Й╖Б╖Е╖Д ╖Я ╖ъ╖я╖ч╖ж╖И╖Е ╖Д╖Ю╖щ╖Н╖э╖Ю ╖И╖ж╖Б╖ж╖ы ╖ъ╖ж╖Ц╖э╖Ю╖щ╖Н╖э╖Ю ╖ъ╖ж╖у╖ж╖щ╖Н.

╖╞╖Ю ╖А╖Ю╖э╖я ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖Я ╖с╖Б╖ж╖ч╖Я ╖с ╖╛╖з╖Д╖я╖ж ╖ъ╖ж ╖Д╖ж╖Б╖Я╖щ. ╖ё ╖А╖Б╖Ю╖с╖з╖ъ╖Х╖з╖з ╖╨╖я╖ъ╖Н╖у╖Е╖ъ╖Н ╖Я ╖с╖ы╖р╖з╖Б╖я╖щ╖Ц╖Я ╖ъ╖я ╖╢╖я╖ш-╖╨╖я╖ъ╖Н -- ╖Ц╖я╖ч╖Е╖П ╖А╖Ю╖И╖з╖Д╖я╖ж╖ч╖Е╖П ╖з╖ы 5 ╖Ц╖с╖Я╖К╖ж╖ъ╖ъ╖М╖Г ╖Д╖я╖Ю╖з╖Ц╖Д╖Ц╖э╖з╖Г ╖с╖ж╖Б╖Й╖з╖ъ ╖╛╖з╖Д╖я╖Я. ╖╢╖я╖ч ╖Я ╖А╖Б╖Ю╖Й╖в╖щ ╖И╖ж╖Б╖ж╖ы:
1). ╖ё╖╟╖╡╖╟╖╢╖║ ╖╞╖║ ╖╠╖╟╖╜╖╠╖╣╖╢╖╙ ╖╛ ╖╞╖╕╖╒╖╕╖Ё╖║╖╝. ╖Ё╖с╖ж╖Б╖Й╖з╖с╖Й╖з╖ш ╖О╖Д╖Ю ╖р╖Е╖у╖ж╖Д ╖ь╖з╖Д╖Н ╖у╖Ю 100 ╖щ╖ж╖Д.
2). ╖║╖╡╖╛╖╣ ╖╒╖╕╖Ё╖Ё╖╝╖╕╖╡╖╢╖╙╖а. ╖╠╖Б╖Ю╖Й╖ж╖у╖Й╖з╖ж ╖И╖ж╖Б╖ж╖ы ╖ъ╖ж╖в ╖А╖Б╖ж╖с╖Б╖я╖К╖я╖П╖Д╖Ц╖Я ╖с ╖ъ╖ж╖р╖ж╖Ц╖ъ╖М╖ж ╖Ц╖Ю╖ы╖у╖я╖ъ╖з╖Я. ╖╠╖Ю╖О╖Д╖Ю╖ч╖Е ╖с╖Ц╖ж ╖р╖Е╖у╖Е╖К╖з╖ж ╖А╖Ю╖Ц╖щ╖я╖ъ╖з╖Я ╖э╖Ю ╖ч╖ъ╖ж ╖А╖Б╖Ю╖Й╖Е ╖ъ╖я╖И╖з╖ъ╖я╖Д╖Н ╖Ц╖щ╖Ю╖с╖я╖ч╖з ╖я╖Б╖з╖з ╖╓╖ж╖Б╖ч╖я╖ъ╖я ╖з╖ы <╖╠╖з╖э╖Ю╖с╖Ю╖ш ╖у╖я╖ч╖М>:
<╖╠╖Б╖Ю╖Ц╖Д╖з, ╖ъ╖ж╖р╖ж╖Ц╖ъ╖Ю╖ж ╖Ц╖Ю╖ы╖у╖я╖ъ╖Н╖ж,
╖╧╖Д╖Ю ╖Я ╖ъ╖я╖Б╖Е╖Й╖з╖щ ╖Д╖с╖Ю╖з ╖А╖Ю╖э╖Ю╖ш!>
3). ╖ю╖╗╖╞╖╫╖╕ ╖╞╖╕╖╒╖╕╖Ё╖╞╖╫╖╕ ╖ё╖╟╖╡╖╟╖╢╖║. ╖╢╖я╖э ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖Ц╖И╖з╖Д╖я╖ш╖Д╖ж, ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖Я ╖Е╖ь╖ж ╖А╖Ю╖р╖М╖с╖я╖щ ╖с ╖Б╖я╖П. ╖╠╖Б╖я╖с╖у╖я, ╖Д╖я╖ч ╖р╖М╖щ╖я ╖Д╖я╖э╖я╖Я ╖А╖я╖Б╖Й╖з╖с╖я╖Я ╖А╖Ю╖т╖Ю╖у╖я ╖Ц ╖у╖Ю╖ь╖у╖в╖ч ╖з ╖с╖ж╖Д╖Б╖Ю╖ч, ╖И╖Ю ╖Я ╖Е╖у╖з╖с╖щ╖Я╖П╖Ц╖Н, ╖А╖Ю╖И╖ж╖ч╖Е ╖с╖Ц╖ж ╖Б╖с╖Е╖Д╖Ц╖Я ╖с ╖Б╖я╖ш.

╖╞╖Ю ╖ъ╖я ╖Ц╖ж╖т╖Ю╖у╖ъ╖Я ╖Я -- ╖с╖з╖Д╖Я╖ы╖Н ╖ъ╖я ╖Б╖я╖Ц╖А╖Е╖Д╖Н╖з. ╖╓╖у╖ж ╖р╖Е╖у╖Е ╖ы╖я╖с╖Д╖Б╖я, ╖ъ╖ж ╖ы╖ъ╖я╖П. ╖╥╖Ю╖Д╖Я ╖Е╖с╖ж╖Б╖ж╖ъ, ╖И╖Д╖Ю ╖О╖Д╖Ю ╖р╖Е╖у╖ж╖Д ╖с╖Ц╖в ╖Д╖Е╖Д ╖ь╖ж, ╖ъ╖я ╖О╖Д╖Ю╖ш ╖А╖я╖Б╖Й╖з╖с╖ж╖ъ╖Н╖э╖Ю╖ш ╖А╖щ╖я╖ъ╖ж╖Д╖в╖ъ╖э╖ж ╖╘╖ж╖ч╖щ╖Я.
╖║╖у╖Б╖ж╖Ц, ╖А╖Ю ╖э╖Ю╖Д╖Ю╖Б╖Ю╖ч╖Е ╖р╖М ╖ч╖ъ╖ж ╖ч╖Ю╖ь╖ж╖Д╖ж ╖А╖з╖Ц╖я╖Д╖Н (╖э╖Ю╖т╖у╖я-╖ъ╖з╖р╖Е╖у╖Н ╖Я ╖О╖Д╖Ю ╖А╖Б╖Ю╖И╖Д╖Е):

Jen How (for Leo),
2220 Sau Yue House,
Sau May Ping Estate,
Kwun Tong,
HONG KONG,
China