Dec 11 (Portal) – Russians banned from traveling abroad must hand over their passports to authorities within five days of notification, according to a government decree that will take effect on Monday.
Under Russian law, authorities can, among other things, impose a travel ban on conscripts, Federal Security Service (FSB) employees, convicts or people who have access to state secrets or “information of particular importance.”
The returned passport will be kept by the authorities that issued it, such as the Ministry of Interior or the authorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After the travel ban is lifted, the passport could be returned after filling out an application, the government order says.
Anyone whose right to travel is temporarily restricted due to being called up for military or civilian service must also present a military ID card with proof of military service, the decision states.
In March, the Financial Times, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, reported that Russian security services confiscated the passports of senior officials and executives of state-owned companies to prevent travel abroad.
Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jamie Freed
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