Since Monday, December 11, millions of Russians whose exit from the territory is already subject to restrictions have been obliged to entrust their passports to the authorities themselves, who are responsible for the “conservation” of the document. Those affected by this order, adopted on November 22, now have five days to comply with this injunction, even if no criminal liability is provided for those who do not do so.

Since 2014 and the annexation of Crimea, measures prohibiting or limiting exit from the territory have gradually been strengthened. They concern different categories of the population: people prosecuted or convicted; those with outstanding debts or fines; members of the security services; or even senior officials, who must obtain special authorization and are instructed to avoid “unfriendly countries” …

An additional measure of control is therefore imposed on them, with this obligation to hand over their external passport (as opposed to the “internal passport”, which has served as an identity card since Soviet times). Those who do not comply will be able to see the document seized during an attempt to cross a border despite everything. Enough to fuel the fear of a country which walled itself behind its borders as in the days of the USSR.

Useful in case of mobilization

New categories are also now concerned, such as young people between 18 and 30 years old having received a summons for military service and men summoned to the recruitment office as part of the “partial” mobilization decree announced on September 21, 2022 and still in force. force. Keeping their passports could prove useful in the event of a new wave of mass mobilization, in order to prevent them from leaving, including those called for simple “checks” . The threat is all the more acute as the legislation now considers a summons to be served from the moment it was sent, in written or electronic form, and no longer upon receipt.

The total number of those “deprived” of passports is difficult to estimate, some of it being secret, but it is well into the millions. Members of the security forces are estimated to be around five million. On the other hand, the number of people banned from leaving for unpaid debts or fines is public, and amounts to seven million.

The bodies authorized to “keep” passports handed over (under conditions which are not specified) are the Ministry of the Interior, the security services (FSB), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its representations abroad. Under another law adopted in May, the same structures also have the right to confiscate a passport if it is deemed invalid by an official, for example if the personal data entered has changed or if a page is damaged – but also if the document turns out to be “unfit for further use” , a particularly vague formula.

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