Russians stand close when talking. Putting your thumb through your index and middle fingers or making the "OK" sign are considered very rude gestures in Russia.
Avoid shaking hands and giving things across a threshold a house or room. It is best to cross the threshold completely before shaking a host's hand when arriving and leaving. – Always remove gloves when shaking hands, it is considered rude not to.
When meeting a Russian for the first time, it's really important to maintain strong eye contact while being addressed. Looking away may be interpreted as apathy or indifference, and considered very rude. However, try not to stare – this is as rude in Russia as it is in the UK.
Close male friends hug and pat each other's back. In short, when meeting a Russian for the first time, male or female, good etiquette is shaking hands firmly while retaining eye contact. Looking away is rude and shows indifference. Men should wait for a woman to offer her hand first.
In Portugal this gesture is also called "Pirete" or "Manguito". In Russia, the middle finger is used to simply point (usually at the speaker themselves) and to communicate emphasis.
Hugging and kissing is very normal for friends, so don't be afraid to show some love. Traditionally, Russians would kiss three times on the cheek when meeting. Now, one kiss is more common, but a hug will also be expected.
Smiling in Russia usually shows the real good mood and good relationship between people, as it is not used as a form of politeness. When a Russian smiles at you, he/she really cares about you or is genuinely in a good mood.
Friends may hug or kiss on the cheek to greet, but Russians are generally limited in their physical contact. Strong physical affection is generally only seen between couples of opposite genders.
Russian men sometimes hug and kiss other men on both cheeks, but they reserve these greetings for close friends. (Interestingly, greetings are the only time Russians typically exhibit physical contact in public. For example, it is uncommon for Russian couples to kiss in public.)
The criteria for inclusion in the blacklist initially included child pornography, advocating suicide and illegal drugs. In 2013, the blacklist law was amended with content "suspected in extremism", "calling for illegal meetings", "inciting hatred" and "violating the established order".
World Athletics has voted to lift an eight-year doping ban on Russia, but the nation will remain excluded from international competition because of an ongoing separate ban over the invasion of Ukraine. The decision was announced on Thursday after a three-day meeting of the World Athletics Council in Monaco.
Flash someone a well-meaning "thumbs up" sign in Russia, and they'll interpret it as a vulgar insult. Rude Hand Gestures of the World: A Guide to Offending without Words, a new title from Chronicle Books, delves into the varied interpretations of hand signals around the planet.
Fourth, фига is the word for the hand gesture of a thumb between the index and middle fingers, which, depending on the nation, time period and speaker, represents the female genitalia, male genitalia or the act of copulation. The gesture is also called кукиш in Russian.
Russian women appreciate it when men go the extra mile to dress nicely and are well-groomed. Compliments and romantic gestures such as opening doors and giving her unexpected flowers, especially roses are great ways to catch her interest.
Eye Contact: Making eye contact is a show of respect in Russian culture and is highly valued. When conversing to someone, it is considered polite to keep eye contact and direct your look at the other person.
In Russia, beauty standards are very different from what we're used to in the West. In general, Russian women are expected to be slim and beautiful with perfect skin, hair, and teeth. They are also expected to dress well and wear lots of makeup.
By contrast, in Russia, no smile is a sign of a neutral politeness, and a smile is always informative. A Russian smile is always personal. When a Russian smiles at you, he or she wants to say that he or she likes you sincerely.
Pet Names for Your Loved One in Russian
Some of the most common pet names include: (Моя) Любимая / (Мой) Любимый — My love (for a woman/for a man) Дорогая / Дорогой — My dear (for a woman/for a man) Милая / Милый — Sweetie or sweetheart (for a woman/for a man)
Basic Etiquette
It's common to adopt a more formal demeanour. Offer your seat to an elderly person, pregnant woman or woman with a small child if they do not have one. Men are expected to open doors for women, pay for their food, help them carry items, etc. People do not always wait in line.