Concerns that foreign countries could gain access to Russia have led the Kremlin to tighten travel rules for officials.
According to Reuters, Visa Guide World reports that the Federal Security Service (FSB) has ordered employees of various ministries to remain in Russia and avoid visiting countries even if they do not impose sanctions against Russia. It is said that they are asking for it.
You can't go anywhere for vacation in May, even to Uzbekistan or Belarus. You can only go with permission.
The reason for this isolation of Russian government employees is, as sources have pointed out, concerns that Russian authorities may be forced to reveal secrets that affect public security. be. If not enforced, authorities fear that employees could be offered protection agreements in exchange for sensitive information, including state secrets.
The concept of “state secrets” includes many activities, and its definition has only expanded since the Ukraine war. State secrets may include military information, as well as nuclear and security information, data, natural resource production and consumption, economic policy, and scientific discoveries.
One official said the detention in January of Dmitry Ovsyanikov, the former governor of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, in London had only prompted stricter rules.
Russia does not trust 'friendly countries' with national security
Travel relies on state institutions, mainly to Russia's so-called “friendly countries” that do not impose sanctions on Russia. Both houses of Russia's parliament can decide on cases individually, and people working in the presidential administration are likely to be allowed to travel.
Sources told Reuters that Russian Duma staff are not allowed to travel abroad and all requests are denied.
The list of friendly countries includes Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and some former Soviet Union states.
Thousands of diplomats expelled due to deteriorating relations with Western countries
As of February 2024, when Russia attacked Ukraine, the number of expelled Russian diplomats around the world is increasing.
Data from Statista revealed that the number of Russian diplomats expelled before 2021 was higher in the US, UK and Czech Republic, indicating the situation before the war in Ukraine.
However, since the war broke out, Bulgaria has expelled most of the Russian diplomats in the EU (90), followed by Poland (53) and Germany (51).
