Russian security services are seizing the passports of prominent officials and executives of state-owned companies to prevent travel abroad over fears of regime defection, the Financial Times reported this Monday.
Security officials have tightened travel requirements within the state sector, requiring travel documents of leading figures to be handed over, several people familiar with the matter said.added the British economic newspaper.
The move reflects deep distrust in the Kremlin and the FSB, the successor to the KGB’s intelligence services, about the loyalties of Russia’s civic elite, many of whom privately oppose the war in Ukraine and are uncomfortable with the consequences. of the conflict in their path. of life, according to the FT.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has tightened restrictions on travel abroad for people working in “sensitive” areas.
“There are stricter rules for that. In some places they are formalized and in others they depend on a specific decision by specific employees,” he told the FT.
Since Soviet times, middle-ranking Russian officials with access to state secrets have been required to leave their passports in a safe place by the “special department” integrated into their ministries and companies.
Yet Russian security services rarely enforced these rules, according to former officials and executives.
The situation changed after the 2014 invasion of Crimea, when security services began warning against travel to countries such as the United States or the United Kingdom.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the restrictions have been much broader.
Source: DN
