Wrong assumption and it was not question of visa type but stopping to border zone.

More likely it has been (as this happens only one border crossing that shop hasnt paid money to border guys or have had some other problems.

If you would come to any border crossing between Finland-Russia there is lot of shops on both sides of border. Finnish people go to buy petrol and alcohol from Russia side and russian people come even from Spb come to buy quality food and products from Finland. Actually one of my friend who lives next to Imatra border station has Russian side shops closer than finnish sides. So this case has nothing to do with that that Russian border guard is trying to stop finns to buy petrol or anything other.

I have had from year 2010 5 multientry visas to Russia, now 6th (2-year). One was 2012 business, all others cultural visas. I would recommend to use cultural visa (at least in office what i use prices are same) It is second option to have multientry visa.

Like it has been said sevaral times allready what was 5 years ago is not anymore same. Tention to some countries has risen in Russia, there has been cases where use of wrong visa type has led into problems. Those cases has been also here in newspapers and discussion groups in Finland.

Also i know for a fact that some years ago my friends were driving with enduro bikes and border guard stopped them. Those who were using business visa were fined for wrong visa type. Whole group was taken into border guard (or whetever official that was) office for questioning and they spend there several hours.

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