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Putin Spokesman: Idea of Restricting Foreign Travel for Russians is 'Absurd'

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.

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