World Country Guide

World Country Guide

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RUSSIA

Russia is almost twice as large as the United States. From Moscow, the area extends westward through the Urals and the Siberian steppes to reach the sea of Okhotsk in the east. European Russia stretches from the Sea of the North Pole, across the uplands of central Russia, the Black Sea, the North Caucasus and the Caspian Sea reaches. Siberia covers the West Siberian Plain, the central plateau between Yenisey and Lena, and includes the mountain ranges of Sayan, Yablonovy and Stanovoy (South), and the eastern mountains between Lena and the North Pacific coast, in addition to the peninsulas of Chukotskiy and Kamchatka.

Republic (since 1991). Head of government: President Dmitry Medvedev since 2008. Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov since 2007.

The official language is Russian.

Most of the population is Orthodox. There are also minorities Moslems, Buddhists and Jews.

The handshake is the most common form of greeting. Business gifts are greatly appreciated. Formal clothing is advised in several places, the weather must also be taken into consideration. Smoking is allowed unless otherwise noted. It is best to avoid external signs of wealth, jewelry, watches, cameras. Be very careful with the thefts.