Support The Moscow Times!

Fleeing Russians Report Lengthy Interrogations at Airports

Igor Ivanko / Moskva News Agency

Russians leaving the country via a dwindling number of available routes are facing lengthy interrogations at airports, according to first-person accounts published by the MediaZona news website Wednesday.

Several men told the outlet they were flagged at passport control, where some of them were escorted to nearby holding areas and asked about their stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At least two of them said they had their smartphones and laptops inspected for content including opposition and Ukrainian social media channels.

“When I was released [after 7 hours of questioning], they said I would most likely not be let out of the country,” Vyacheslav Ustenko was quoted as saying.

Ustenko, 21, said he was insulted and humiliated by an alleged Federal Security Service (FSB) agent.

“He said I was an anarchist, a traitor to the Motherland and that I was going to Ukraine to fight” purportedly on Kyiv’s side, he was quoted as saying.

A screenshot of an online chat shared with The Moscow Times provided travel advice to maximize the chances of a successful exit amid reports of anti-war Russians leaving the country in droves.

“You need to have a return ticket on hand, say you’re flying on vacation, are neutral [toward the war in Ukraine] and delete Telegram,” it read.

At least 36 mostly Western countries have closed their airspace to Russia following President Vladimir Putin’s order to attack Ukraine, a move that was met by tit-for-tat measures by Russia’s aviation authority.

Meanwhile, activist Alyona Popova opened a recruitment database for independent Russian journalists to “find an employer who will get you and your family out.”

“As a longtime acquaintance of mine said, you should have gone into IT [because] it’s very difficult to leave as a ‘journalist’,” Popova wrote on Telegram.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

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.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more