Job Discussion Forums

GF · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn

@Teacher X - I suspected that was the issue. I worked for many schools in Moscow in my time and very few employed me legally.

@Foma 87 - It doesn't take much stretch of the imagination to work out that if the situation gets worse between Russia and the West, more of these things will happen. The laws are already there and Russia just might take great interest in suddenly enforcing them stictly and across the board.

Foma87 · Joined: 13 Sep 2011 Posts: 116 Location: Moscow

It's possible the authorities are cracking down, I'm just not sure Atlantic is evidence of this. After all, If they did have a staff of over 40 foreign teachers and they were all on business visas, with the amount of money involved, I'm not surprised flags were raised. It should also be noted many Russian schools' Russian staff are paid under the table as well
I had a cop come to my apartment a couple months ago to inquire whether I was renting or not (probably for tax reasons). Maybe something is up. But again, I doubt it's Crimea-related.

GF · Joined: 08 Jun 2003 Posts: 238 Location: Tallinn

I got a visit from a pair of local cops shortly after I moved to Moscow. It came out later that one of my lovely 'neighbors' reported a new foreigner in the building.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

The threat of visa sanctions appears to be aimed at higher level Russian officials (my usual sources are the BBC, Independent.co.uk and Russia Today, televised version in English). Given past history and current attitudes, Russian retaliation at a similar level is to be expected. Whether or not this reaches down to teachers of languages remains to be seen; my experience has been that procedures get tightened up, with increased bureaucratic demands (yes, it used to be much worse).

One fact, with yours truly as an eyewitness: I was interviewed on a coach last night, travelling from a city in southern Russia (not terribly far from Ukraine). My interlocutor wore a mask and carried a sub-machine gun. Although he checked all passports, he only appeared to take an interest in those which were not held by Russian nationals. The longest conversation was with me, as he wanted to ascertain exactly which English-speaking country I came from (England in my case).

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

There is a lot of hype here in Cyprus in case the E.U. decides to impose visa restrictions for Russian nationals as retaliation for the Crimea situation?Cypriots are especially worried as they have a lot of Russian tourists expected here this season and also business traffic on a regular basis.
But when seen from a practical point of view I don't think this will happen for the simple reason that both sides have far too many interests which would be damaged.....Germany, for example relies on Russian gas imports and German firms have billions invested in various industries there, while many wealthier Russians, including officials, have money in banks abroad and travel frequently so they would not tolerate their leadership effectively cutting off their noses!
But as for more bureaucracy in Russia and a nastier and more awkward attitude by officials towards foreigners etc., this wouldn't surprise me as it is a favourite technique there which has been in use since the Soviet era(and before!)

teacher X · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2014 5:24 pm Post subject:

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

At the end of the day both sides are too interdependent to cut their ties and perhaps we should be grateful for this? Back in the Soviet era things would have been very different-and potentially more dangerous?
Whatever many ordinary Russian people really think, but probably don't dare to say so openly, Putin will do what he thinks is best for his own interests and it seems that nothing can stop him!
There are enough problems in the world already and this is one we could all do without!