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Russia Introduces Unofficial Exit Restrictions for Men of Mobilization Age
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Russian authorities have introduced unofficial restrictions on foreign travel for men of mobilization age, with the practice emerging in several major cities.
The partisan movement ATESH said on August 18 its agents among border service and airport employees in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg had reported an informal screening system for men seeking to leave the country.
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“Men of mobilization age are being subjected to additional checks, causing them to miss their flights—even when their documents are in order and they are not subject to any official travel restrictions,” the movement stated.
ATESH said the measures are being implemented despite Russian authorities publicly maintaining that no mobilization is planned. The movement claimed that border officials had received informal instructions to prevent only a certain percentage of travelers from leaving rather than subjecting everyone to additional screening, in an apparent effort to avoid public alarm.
The reported checks can involve questioning travelers about the purpose of their trip, inspecting personal belongings, or repeatedly verifying tickets and documents.
“The person is held aside under the pretext of a database check. Once boarding has closed, their passport is returned and they are sent home without any official documentation or explanation,” ATESH concluded.
The reports come amid broader indications that Russian authorities are intensifying efforts to replenish military personnel as voluntary recruitment for the war against Ukraine slows.
The Wall Street Journal reported on August 3 that authorities are increasingly using police operations, intimidation, physical violence, and threats of fabricated criminal charges to pressure men into signing military contracts.
According to the outlet, military recruiters working alongside police have detained men of fighting age on the streets, near their workplaces, and during purported document checks in several Russian regions. Some were subsequently taken to recruitment centers, where they were subjected to violence or threats in an effort to force them to enlist.
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