U.S. Tells Citizens Not to Travel to Russia and Those Already There to Leave Immediately
“…the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism.”
The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Russia told American citizens not to travel to the country. Those already in Russia should leave immediately.
The alert says: “Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism. U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately. Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.”
The embassy explained its ability to help citizens “is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.”
The Russian government placed “limitations on travel for embassy personnel and staffing.”
The one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is on February 24 (my birthday!).
The officials warned American citizens that the Russian government might not recognize those who have dual citizenship. The citizens could also face problems reaching the embassy for help and even preventing them from leaving Russia.
The government could force American citizens “to mobilization” “and/or conscript them.”
The last Level 4 warning, which is the highest, came in September when Russian dictator “President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilastion.”
Rumors of another mobilization began in January.
U.S. credit and debit cards do not work in Russia. Due to sanctions, it’s difficult for American citizens “to electronically transfer funds from the U.S.” It doesn’t help that there’s a cash shortage in America.
The citizens face limited flights out of Russia. It could get worse, too.
The U.S Embassy also warned citizens not to participate in social protests. The country doesn’t protect people’s natural right to protest and express themselves.
Russia has a history of harassing and arresting American citizens on trumped up charges:
Russian security services may fail to notify the U.S. Embassy of the detention of a U.S. citizen and unreasonably delay U.S. consular assistance. Russian security services are increasing the arbitrary enforcement of local laws to target foreign and international organizations they consider “undesirable.”
Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence. Furthermore, Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and have opened questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Russia to perform work for or volunteer with non-governmental organizations or religious organizations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded: “They (warnings) have been voiced by the State Department many times in the last period, so this is not a new thing.”
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Comments
Can we call it BUYdens’s war yet?
This is disturbing. The conflict has been going on for close to a year now ( at present intensity , nine overall ). Why now? What stupid thing is the Biden administration thinking of doing?
Exactly
It’s not what the US administration might do, but what Putin might do. With the anniversary coming up and his having failed to conquer the Ukraine with half-measures, and with his survival dependent on winning the war, he may soon significantly ramp up the attack, so they’re warning people to get out.
The US already crossed the threshold with the pipelines. So what the admin “might do” is now even further up for grabs.
You’re assuming, for no good reason, that Sy Hersh was telling the truth this time. That’s about as reasonable as believing everything Biden says.
Ain’t that the truth.
Well, we don’t really know, do we? ;-{)}}}
This is not new and not news. Russia has been marked “Level 4 Do Not Travel” by the State Department for a long time now.
Maybe they decided to sent out a reminder approaching the one-year anniversary of the war — sorry, special military operation — and a bunch of reporters assumed it was a new classification?
Feb 24th, your birthday? Ah to be 30 again!
Don’t travel to Russia, get out of Russia. “Back in the USSR”.
Between 2005 and 2013, I traveled to Russia approximately 85 times. Sometimes staying for 2 – 3 weeks at a time.
I traveled to places most Russians will never travel to. Nor would they want to. -20 degrees in November in Siberia to absolutely perfect 75 degree days in the Far East. North, south, east and west to about 20 different cities, towns, villages, and holes in the wall.
Some women were so beautiful you didn’t believe it and had to stare at them just to try and find something about them that wasn’t perfect.
And let me just get this in there: Putin and his puppet government suck!!!
Curious, were these women mostly ethnic Russian or more remote from Moscow. I’ve seen a bunch over the years and like the old saying goes….so damn fine looking they could kick start a 747.
Is this actually true? I certainly wouldn’t put it past them, but that doesn’t make it true. Have they actually been doing this, or is this just US propaganda and they’re really talking about cases like Brittney Griner, who “violated local laws” by smuggling drugs, for which any local person would likely have been faced the same penalty?
Norks…yes. Russians..no. Soviets..maybe. When I visited the old US embassy in 1971, I overheard that a US citiizen had been pulled off a train and no one knew more than that as no word from the person or the authorities.
As for Putin “losing” the war. It ain’t over. Not trying to sound too pessimistic, but Ukraine doesn’t have a winning hand. No one does right now. This is becoming less of a proxy war… everyone knows the players. I just hope someone doesn’t miss the final off ramp for a Sun Zhu golden bridge…. all the corrupt players in the West already have theirs. Even if Putin unleashed the nuclear genie… I doubt FJB or the EU will follow.
Given the opposite-day Bizarros who run our government now, perhaps this is a good indication that we should all be taking out one-way tickets to Moscow.
Modifying the old Russian saying…. “God is so high and FJB/EU/NWO/WEF/NATO can be so far away. Admittedly, one would have to go deep into the country… a place that isn’t the end of the world but you can see it from there. There’s always Chicken, Alaska. (They had too hard of a time spelling “ptarmigan” that they settled for “Chicken”. )
This is not new and not news. Russia has been marked “Level 4 Do Not Travel” by the State Department for a long time now.
Russia: a Thug-State
U.S. : a Woke-Thug State
I am wondering who needed this warning. It seems like common sense considering all that is going on and the continuing antagonistic relationship between Russia and the US. I also wouldn’t go to Ukraine. Several places in the middle east. Think before you travel
Did someone tell Bernie Sanders? He’ll have to make new vacation plans!