The Kremlin's spokesman has dismissed as "absurd" the possibility Russians could be restricted from traveling abroad, a news report said, following a poll that indicated considerable support in the country for such a measure.
"The absurdity of the poll requires no answer," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian News Service on Wednesday.
Survey results released a day earlier by independent Levada Center pollster indicated that 28 percent of Russians supported some kind of government restrictions on foreign travel, particularly for holders of state secrets, military and security officers, and government officials.
A total of 9 percent of respondents wanted a universal travel restriction to be imposed on all Russian citizens, the poll indicated, while only half of respondents, or 55 percent, were against any kinds of barriers.
The poll was conducted in 46 Russian regions between Sept. 19-22 and the margin of error did not exceed 3.4 percentage points.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.