The popular Business Insider news portal posted list of the most dangerous cities in Europe. It was compiled using statistics compiled by the Mercer consulting company, which annually publishes the Quality of Life Index. It helps multinational companies and other employers to compensate employees for their risks in international travel.
Mercer examined crime in 450 European cities and then compiled a list of 230 cities that are the safest for workers. It may come as a surprise to some that some of the largest and richest cities in Western Europe are not among the safest, but this is mainly due to a number of terrorist attacks or threats of such acts in the past year. Other criteria, such as petty crimes or threats to national security, were taken into account. And Business Insider selected the cities at the end of the Mercer list for its rating.
Here top 10 European cities where you should definitely not go for the New Year holidaysif you do not want to exchange your money for a tickling nerves the opportunity to be robbed, or even killed.
10. Bucharest, Romania
Organized crime in the Romanian capital is rare, but the city is ranked 79th on the list of dangerous European cities due to widespread corruption and petty crimes. In British newspapers, Ferentari has the glory of the most dangerous criminal area because of frequent thefts, car thefts and other illegal actions. The Bucharest police have different information: in sector 5, to which Ferentari belongs, the crimes are most rarely committed in the city. But tourists are unlikely to want to experience firsthand who is right: the British or the local police.
9. Zagreb, Croatia
Corruption is pulling the city down - it has taken 79th place in terms of life safety in European cities. A visitor should be wary of pickpockets, but crimes against tourists in the city are rare.
7. Riga, Latvia
In addition to anti-immigration protests, Riga is ranked 82nd in the list of the most dangerous European countries in 2016 due to its thriving organized crime and developed business of sexual services.
7. Rome, Italy
The eternal city fell to 82nd position after a high level of threat of terrorist attacks was announced in it and other Italian cities, such as the one that occurred in Paris last November.
6. Madrid, Spain
The Spanish capital is ranked 84th in the Mercer safety charts due to public unrest as a result of unpopular austerity measures. These measures have led to an increase in unemployment, especially among Madrid youth. But in Spain, health care is the best country in Europe.
5. Budapest, Hungary
The city is ranked 93rd due to the influx of refugees causing massive social unrest. The chaos at the railway stations and protests on the city streets led to the fact that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had to curb the flow of migrants passing through the country.
4. Sofia, Bulgaria
A high level of social unrest lowered the city to 118th place. Bulgaria is the poorest member of the European Union, and its residents are constantly protesting against cuts in social and pension benefits, as well as against corruption.
3. Athens, Greece
After extensive and lengthy austerity measures, poverty and crime reached their zenith in Athens. In addition, the recent political and economic crisis in Greece has led to violent protests not only in Athens, but also in other Greek cities. The influx of security in Athens and the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants does not improve.
2. Belgrade, Serbia
Serious crimes are not often committed in the city, but Belgrade is ranked 131st in the ranking of the most dangerous and safe cities in Europe due to widespread corruption and bribery, as well as theft and vandalism.
1. Kiev, Ukraine
The country's capital ranks 189 in the Quality of Life Index and is the most dangerous country in Europe due to civil unrest and deteriorating relations with Russia. Although the British Foreign Office speaks of Kiev as a “calm” city compared to the Crimean region, Kiev is replete with theft, vandalism and violent protests in connection with an unfavorable political and social situation. During these protests, hundreds of people were killed or injured.
In compiling its rating, Mercer relied on data for the entire 2015, so recent terrorist attacks in Europe were not taken into account. But they will be taken into account when compiling the quality of life rating next year.
