Just a short update:
Yesterday I straighlty walked into an MTS shop here in Moscow and got a prepaid SIM card (data only) with a data allowance of 4GB valid for 30 days for just 400 Rubels (€ 8 ). Had to show my ID and 5 minutes later I could plug the SIM into my phone and immediately start using the Internet without any additional activation procedures. I think there is some geographic limitation as the data allowance can only be used in parts of Russia, but except for that a very easy process.
On that occasion I had my first completely machine-translated face-to-face conversation as the salesperson did not really speak English. How stupid of me to ask if they spoke English when they have Google Translate including voice recognition at their fingertips. Worked like a charm!
