Myth: RUSSIA IS FULL OF MAFIA AND IT'S DANGEROUS HERE!
Truth: Really, many people think that Russia is some place filled with Mafia and it's so dangerous to come here. Well, there is Mafia, but it's like that in every place in the world and Russia is not more dangerous than anywhere else, even less dangerous. If you know where to stay, keep away from the "bad" places, do your normal traveler's things and practice your normal traveler's safety, you'll be okay. You can only have contact with criminals when you're into something illegal, like buying or selling drugs, or are really looking for trouble. Really, think about it: why would anybody have problems because of you? The Mafiosi spend all their time making business, the gangs spend all their time dealing with each other, so you certainly will not experience any of that. Also there's so much police on the streets of Moscow it seems like the safest place in the world.

Myth: IT'S HARD TO GET TO RUSSIA: TOO MUCH TIME AND PAPERWORK.
Truth: If you know how it's done then it's no problem. Really, all the papers you need are your passport and an invitation from Russia. It's easy now to get the invitation, and you don't need to book an expensive hotel for the whole period of your stay. The invitations can be made through hostels (which will ask you to book one night), or a travel agencies (which will ask you only money), and the price in both cases will be $25-$35 US. The invitation can be sent to you by fax. Visa costs around $50-$60 US (for this price it's ready in 7-14 days), and if you pay more it takes only one day to make a visa.
Now, some people say it's too long and expensive to get here, but if you travel to the Eastern Europe, Russia is really close and not exspensive to get to. A one way train ticket from Latvia to Moscow costs $25 US (and it takes 15-16 hours), a one way bus ticket from Estonia to St. Petersburg costs $10 (and it takes 5 hours), a one way train ticket from Poland to St. Petersburg (if you don't go through Belarus, to avoid hassles with transit visa) will be around $50 US.

Myth: THERE ARE SO MANY CATASTROPHES AND BOMBINGS!
Truth: Not more than anywhere else. It's just that Russia is a very big country and it's size is like both Europe's and United States', do you think there are more disasters happening in Russia than in Europe and States together?

Myth: THE ECONOMY IS DESTRUCTED AND RUSSIA IS A POOR COUNTRY WITH NO FUTURE :-(
Truth: Well, it's not quite true, though many people think so and they have their reasons. The economy is rising now, becoming more and more independent and stable, but unfortunately there's a temptation to do it at the cost of heavy industries (like oil & gas, resources etc.) which turns Russia into a country, that sells only resources. At the same time Russia tries to keep up with the latest technological advances, and to improve the side of the economy that workes especially for people. It can be seen. Also, the government is starting to understand that it's there not to suck money, but to help people and the country, but there's a high level of corrution and a high dumb-head factor still.
At the same time the increasing gap between poor and rich people intensifies social tension in society; there are broken down towns and villages (with dead industries); there are lost people not required in the new system and having nothing to do - therefore drunkenness, narcotics and crimes; low paid old people are really just trying to survive; low salaries in state-employment result in bribes to customs, police...
The good side is that there are more and more people who adapt to the new system, and who understand that they depend not on the government (like in old Soviet times), but on themselves now, and what can be seen and felt now is that the people are changing, their attitude is changing, they understand that only by acting themselves will they achieve something, they look quite optimistic to the future and that means everything is going to be all right. There are young people who want to change how things are and people are trying to do something to make their life better. It works, there are more and more "middle class" people. But the problem with poor, old and "lost" people remains.

Myth: THE WINTER IS SO COLD HERE!
Truth: It's not very cold, though sometimes it might be quite freezing. But if you have warm clothes, you'll be ok. Generally, the lowest is minus 10 or 15 Celsius in the winter, though it might sometimes (rarely) go as low as minus 25 or 30, but even that is not very cold, because it's not humid. And the true thing about Russian winter is that it's very beautiful, that is right. I like it!

Myth: MANY RUSSIANS ARE RACISTS, AREN'T THEY?
Truth: Russians are not racists. Even in the communist time people were raised up on the idea that everybody is equal. The only thing is that few middle-aged and old people have something against the States. But they'l not insult or offend a tourist because of that. Just don't hurt anybody's patriotic feelings.
Anyway, Russians are more often than not very open and generous to the foreigners.