Russia is seizing thousands of passports from people who might flee the war in Ukraine or run off with secrets

Tue, 12/12/2023 - 09:23

A man in a black coat holds a Russian passport — A Russian man waits in a queue to have his passport checked at the Vaalimaa border check point in Virolahti, Finland, on September 25, 2022.
Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/via REUTERS

The Kremlin is seizing the passports of Russians under a new decree.
It targets include conscripts and people with state secrets.
Russia has used passport confiscation to stop people fleeing, and is likely doing the same here.

Russia is seizing the passports of thousands of Russians who are banned from traveling abroad, including people meant to fight in Ukraine, and those holding national secrets.