Russia's 'window to the west' turns to tourists from the East

Saint Petersburg, Russia - Alexandra Kulikova used to come across plenty of different European languages on the streets of Saint Petersburg, the iconic city founded by Peter the Great as Russia's 'window to the West'.

'You could hear English, French or Italian being spoken everywhere... and we were always full,' Kulikova, the co-owner of a chain of apartment rentals in the city, told AFP.

But the Kremlin's