A private tour of Moscow's criminal past and present
Let's take a walk through places from the chronicle of emergency incidents: the murder of Politkovskaya, the Sylvester bombing. Also on the route: Tram park and Barricades of 1905, Underground printing house, Butyrsky prison castle, Sushchevskaya police station.
Crime Chronicles of Sushchyovka and Butyrka
We invite you to see the city from the perspective of its criminal underworld. On this original tour, we will discuss high-profile murders, revolutionary chronicles, legal conundrums, the lives of prisoners and the customs of their warders. This is a side of Moscow that people prefer not to notice, steering clear of it or ignoring it altogether. We invite you to take a closer look at this unsavoury world and revisit the city's criminal chronicles.
Along the route of this crime-themed tour, we will examine the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, the notorious bombing that killed Sylvester, leader of the Orekhovskaya criminal gang and the inspiration for Sasha Bely in the television series Brigada, and the bloody attempt on Lenin's life. We will devote particular attention to the 1905 Revolution: its preparations, course and consequences. We will discover how an underground printing press operated and will not pass by the legendary Butyrka Prison fortress. We will also explore the complex of the Sushchyovskaya Police Station. Moscow's underworld way of life and its unwritten code are unlikely to leave you indifferent.
Let's meet
m. Belorusskaya, Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at Tverskaya Zastava (church in front of the buildings of the White Square business center).
Anton Latynin Moscow expert, theater and literary critic, author and leader of dozens of thematic excursions around Moscow in Russian, German and English. He received higher education in Russia and Germany. Graduate of the National Research University Higher School of Economics with a degree in journalism and media communications. A native Muscovite.
Reviews
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On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.Alexander July 20, 2026
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Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!Tatyana, Galina, Nadezhda June 24, 2026
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This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.Julia June 20, 2026
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Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.Inna May 26, 2026
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Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.Ksenia May 25, 2026
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Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!Oleg February 19, 2026
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Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.Elya September 27, 2025
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Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!Kira August 9, 2025
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Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!Kirill August 4, 2025
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Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.Victoria July 8, 2025
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Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!Julia July 1, 2025
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Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.Tatiana June 23, 2025
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A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!Anna May 6, 2025
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We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!Olga May 4, 2025
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Good day to all! I would like to share my impressions of the excursion "Journey to Christmas". Our guide was Anastasia. So! Everything was just magical: a slight frost of -4, snow, numerous Christmas trees, decorations, lights, garlands and all this to the interesting educational story of Anastasia. Despite the fact that we knew something about the New Year, there was a lot that was new, unexpected and interesting. And all this to the music of Tchaikovsky. In general, we are delighted. Thank you for the New Year mood you gave us. It is priceless!!!! Thank you!Victoria January 5, 2025
