Russia denies plans to introduce exit visas for travel to NATO countries
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has dismissed reports of drafting legislation for exit visas as 'nonsense' and 'foreign agent stuff.'
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has denied reports that Russia is preparing to introduce exit visas. In comments to RBC, she called such claims “nonsense” and said only outlets listed in Russia’s “foreign agents” registry publish this kind of information.
Earlier, the Telegram channel Mozhem Obyasnit (“We Can Explain”) reported that Russia’s Foreign Ministry was developing a package of documents to introduce exit visas, citing a source in Russian diplomatic circles and another close to the presidential administration. According to the channel, travel to NATO countries would be restricted under the pretext of “the security of Russian citizens.” Tourists would only be allowed to travel in groups of at least 10 people with an escort, following an approved route. The list of countries where independent travel would be permitted had not yet been approved.
Mozhem Obyasnit also noted that last week, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the “special military operation” (SVO) had turned into a “real war.” Some outlets interpreted this as a test of public reaction to a possible imposition of martial law, either nationwide or in individual regions, which would make it possible to impose a total ban on citizens leaving the country.
In October 2022, Vladimir Putin signed a decree imposing martial law in Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as in the parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions under Russian control. Several border regions, as well as the annexed territories of Crimea and Sevastopol, are under a “medium-level response” regime.
There are already exit restrictions for Russians with access to state secrets. As of 2024, they must notify the FSB and the Foreign Intelligence Service at least 30 days in advance of any planned trips abroad.
