Russian Prime Minister Prohibits Officials from Leaving Country Without Permission

The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mishustin, has prohibited government officials from leaving the territory of Russia without special permission.

According to The Bell, this ban applies to ministers, their deputies, heads of departmental staff, and directors of various departments. They are only allowed to travel abroad for official purposes, and travel permits must be personally validated by Prime Minister Mishustin's signature.

Recently, the Financial Times reported that Russian security services have begun seizing passports of mid-level officials and employees of state-owned companies, despite the fact that these individuals do not handle documents classified as state secrets. Experts believe that the authorities aim to prevent potential flight of this category of citizens abroad.