Although Russia has not been a communist state for more than a decade, its rich political history is reflected in the architecture and culture.
Formerly a nation that was divided between the superrich and very poor, there is now a significant emergent middle class, which means that their tastes and consumer preferences are well catered for.
If you do not know many people when you arrive in Russia, you will quickly make friends and contacts as networking is an important part of Russian business life. English is a widely spoken business language, but learning and using a smattering of Russian will be well received and earn you some serious brownie points.
Moscow
As the capital city, Moscow is the Russian centre for finance and trade, and is where the majority of opportunities lie for sales and finance professionals.
But Moscow is not all work and no play. The theatre and ballet scene can rival any in the world, but if you are more of a gourmet than a culture vulture you will not be left out. Its selection of restaurants is cosmopolitan, but there is a strong sense of heritage as new chefs put their own interpretation on traditional Russian cuisine.
With its Metro system, Moscow is easy to navigate, although it is better to walk around to ensure that you do not miss the amazing architecture.
Travel
Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of land mass, covering nine different time zones. But with only 145 million people, it is certainly not a crowded place.
St Petersburg, nicknamed the Venice of the north, is worth making a special trip, and regular services run from Moscow.
You can spend your weekends in almost any type of environment you like, without having to leave the country. So whether you want to ski, sail on immense lakes, hike through the beautiful countryside or watch the landscape go by from the comfort of the Trans-Siberian express.
