Russian character is oriental in nature. For Russians too much order is not good. Russians are not British, Americans or Germans. St Petersburg has more space and less order than European cities, more spirituality and less religiousness, more sophistication and less formality. In the beginning of the century Czarina Alexandra via her ladies-in-chamber said to a St Petersburg Dame at the ballroom that her décolleté is too deep and immodest. The Dame answered that in Russia people dress this way and pulled her décolleté even lower. St Petersburg is not a European city. It is rather a Russian impression of Europe. So is the Russian character.

For years Europeans tried to train Russians to do business in European way. Sometimes they thought that they succeeded only to learn later that it was not so. When Russians say that they want some order they do not mean a Western type order. Religion in Russia plays little role in forming the society habits and citizen’s morals; traditions overrule "experts"; "bad laws" ignored rather than honored as it is done in the West. And when something is not allowed but someone really wants it - it is permitted as an exception. Russians understand and forgive willingly. They sin and rarely repent. That makes foreigners uncomfortable.

Many blame communists for what is the Russian character today. Communists did not change Russian character as much as many believe. They did make things less formal and less refined. They did not change the character but rather took advantage of it. Russians always had a collective mindset or what Americans call "team-player" mentality. However, Americans do not honor and respect self-sacrifices for the benefit of a team - Russians do. That is more in line with the eastern mentality and value system. But Russians are not as rigid as other Orientals.