Useful Information

ATM

An ATM is located in the Media Pavilion.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

The only official currency is the Russian rouble. You can buy roubles at all bank outlets or currency exchange offices. The exchange rate is set by the Central Bank of Russia in accordance with stock exchange quotations. There are no limits to the amount of cash you can exchange.

All major international credit cards are accepted in Russia.

DRIVER'S LICENSES

Russia recognizes international driver's licenses issued by states that are party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

Russia is a right-hand traffic country.

ELECTRIC OUTLETS

Russia uses European style 220V 50-60Hz current.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Territory: 17,125,400 sq km.

Population: 146 3 million (as of January 2015).

Administrative divisions: 22 republics, 9 territories, 46 regions, 3 federal cities, 1 autonomous region, 4 autonomous areas and 8 federal districts.

There are about 160 ethnic groups in Russia.

Capital: Moscow

Currency: Rouble

Official language: Russian

Fundamental Law: The Constitution of the Russian Federation, adopted in 1993

Since 1991, the head of state in the Russian Federation has been the President, elected through a universal, equal, direct suffrage by secret ballot.

The current President of the Russian Federation is Vladimir Putin, who took office on 7 May 2012.

Executive power is exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation, which is formed for the President's term of office. The Government comprises the Prime Minister, his deputies and federal ministers. The current Prime Minister of the Russian Federation is Dmitry Medvedev.

Since January 1994, legislative power has been exercised by a bicameral parliament, the Federal Assembly, consisting of the Federation Council and the State Duma. The current Speaker of the Federation Council is Valentina Matviyenko The current Speaker of the State Duma is Sergei Naryshkin.

THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN
The Republic of Bashkortostan is located in the Volga Federal District in the South Urals, on the border of Europe and Asia.

Territory: 143,000 sq km. The republic has over 4 million people, the seventh largest in Russia.

Bashkortostan is a multinational republic with over 120 ethnic groups.

Bashkortostan is a leading industrial and agricultural region in Russia with major oil, chemical and mechanical engineering industries. Other leading industries include fuel, chemicals, petrochemicals, power generating, metals, mechanical engineering, agriculture, and food processing and other light industries. The republic is involved in the research and production of energy, chemicals, mechanical engineering and has developed other clusters including personnel training centres, research institutes, pilot production and industrial facilities.

Bashkortostan maintains foreign economic relations with 90 countries. Its largest foreign partners include the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, China, Liechtenstein, Italy, Germany and Finland.

UFA

Ufa is the capital of Bashkortostan and one of the largest economic, cultural, sports and research centres in the South Urals. The city began as a fortress in 1574.

The city is located on seven hills at the confluence of three rivers: the Belaya (Agidel), Ufa (Karaidel) and Dyoma. It is a major railway, air, river and road hub connecting European Russia with the Urals and Siberia.

Population: 1,106,600. Territory: 707 9 sq km. The city is 53 5 km from north to south and 29 8 km from east to west.

Oil refining and chemicals are the main industries in the city.

Ufa has over 30 universities, including Ufa State Aviation Technical University (USATU), which has been ranked one of the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2015. In 2013, Miftahetdin Akmullah Bashkir State Pedagogical University was included in the SCO Network University.

The city architecture is a diverse mix of styles and traditions with ancient cathedrals and mosques standing next to architectural monuments and modern buildings.

The city authorities respect traditions and take modern cultural trends into account. A combination of eastern and western mentalities has produced the city's openness to constructive dialogue and effective mutually beneficial cooperation.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL LANDMARKS

Ufa has a multitude of theatres, museums and galleries, including the Mikhail Nesterov Bashkir State Museum of Arts, the National Museum of Bashkortostan, the Republican Museum of Military Glory, the Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, the Oblaka (Clouds) Centre of Contemporary Art, the Zeki Velidi Togan National Library, the State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Majit Gafuri Bashkir Academic Drama Theatre, the Russian Academic Drama Theatre of Bashkortostan, the Mustai Karim National Youth Theatre, the Nur Ufa State Tatar Theatre.

The city's major cultural facilities will be open to journalists during the SCO and BRICS summits (see Cultural Programme).