Permitted countries for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies

Who is subject to sanctions?

According to statistics, today almost 4 million security forces are subject to the ban in the Russian Federation. These include:

• employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• migration authorities;
• employees of anti-drug departments;
• executive service employees;
• military.

In addition, there is a category of persons for whom such an order is not just a recommendation, but acts as a direct prohibition. Among them three groups can be distinguished:

• FSB employees;
• persons who have access to state secrets are subject to a restriction for 5 years with the right to further extension for another similar period;
• military personnel.

Please note that this sanction is specified in the employment contract, and the employee’s foreign passport is kept in the department’s personnel department.

FSO employees were allowed to travel only to 27 states

The human resources department of the intelligence service sent out a letter of recommendation to employees with a list of prohibited and permitted states.

So yes, for most such tests do not pass without leaving a trace. I read somewhere that Medvedev, when he was an assistant professor at St. Petersburg State University, received eight dollars a month. It is not surprising that when he is suddenly entrusted with handling billions, the roof is blown away.

It necessarily applies to those persons who serve in the FSB. Certain restrictions on leaving Russia are also imposed on military personnel who have access to state secrets. The legislative framework also establishes other categories who, for one reason or another, may be subject to a temporary restriction on leaving the country. Attention!

This order does not give law enforcement officers full-fledged travel to the specified countries for vacation. That is, this list should be used as a guide when considering reports on traveling abroad during the holiday period. The final decision in each specific case is made by the management.

Main reasons for the ban

According to the order, there is no strict ban on visiting foreign countries. In 2019, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are simply not recommended to travel to those countries with which the United States has extradition agreements.

The order outlines the following reasons for the recommendation to refrain from visiting certain countries:

1. Protection of state secrets (according to the order, those employees who have access to classified information must refuse to visit foreign countries).
2. Security (Russians traveling abroad often become victims of American intelligence services for far-fetched reasons).

It is noteworthy that the corresponding order is also relevant for some civilians. Russians who have entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Defense must obey the order.

The order was taken literally by the leadership of the law enforcement agencies: foreign passports began to be taken away from the police. The ban on visiting “abroad” hit residents of Kaliningrad and the Far East the hardest. Previously, they could travel freely throughout European countries. Today, as an alternative, they are offered to visit Tunisia, Vietnam or the Maldives.

Getting permission

It is important to understand that a ban on traveling abroad is not a death sentence. If the need arises to visit a foreign country, each employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has the opportunity to obtain the appropriate permission

The procedure for obtaining a permit today looks like this:

• write an application addressed to your superiors (the application is drawn up in the prescribed form);
• wait for the result;
• obtain a permit;
• transfer the received permission to the HR department;
• get your foreign passport.

In the application, the MIA officer undertakes to describe his route in as much detail as possible. It is also necessary to indicate for what purpose he wishes to make a foreign rendezvous. The final decision is made at the discretion of the supervisor.

It is important to take into account that management can consider the applicant’s issue both positively and negatively.

It is the responsibility of the management to inform the employee about the decision made. Confirmation that the employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has familiarized himself with the decision of his superiors is his personal signature.

Permission to issue a foreign passport is also issued according to the established template. If an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is faced with the need for a long stay abroad, the final decision on his issue is made only after agreement with higher authorities.

Report on permission to travel abroad.

The application process takes 2-3 hours and does not involve any specific bureaucratic formalities. The decision is made within 3-5 working days.

At the end of the rendezvous, the police officer undertakes to draw up a written report on the trip and submit it to his superiors. After the trip, the passport is again handed over to the HR department.

List of prohibited countries for military personnel and police officers in 2021

Not so long ago, an active officer of the Russian army could go to the Mediterranean Sea or to European countries - then Turkey, Thailand, Egypt, Cyprus, Morocco, Tunisia were in greatest demand.

However, due to increased international tension, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies, began to reduce the list of countries where employees were allowed to go on vacation abroad.

This is explained quite simply - law enforcement officers have access to top-secret information that is not subject to disclosure. In addition, many countries have extradition treaties with countries with which Russia has tense diplomatic relations, in connection with which military personnel may be provoked and their personal safety may be at risk.

The second form of clearance implies awareness of top-secret information, which cannot in any way be threatened by hostile intelligence services of foreign states.

In 2021, the list of countries prohibited for military and police holidays is as follows:

A trip to a taboo country

It is still possible to travel to some countries despite the ban on staying there.

For this purpose, an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Armed Forces must obtain approval from management in a timely manner; it can be issued only in exceptional cases.

If a loved one of a military or police officer needs urgent treatment or has died, the security officer will be released to the country where he is located. But the facts must be confirmed by relevant certificates. A notice is attached to them. Sometimes consent is obtained only after reviewing the report by senior management.

Having traveled to a taboo country, the employee must immediately surrender his passport and submit a report to management.

The document, which has an ambiguous interpretation depending on the locality, has a legal basis and is based on regulations that indicate employees of the following structures:

• FSO;
• FSIN;
• FSB;
• armed forces;
• people who have access to information of particular importance: state secrets, classified information.

The territorial restriction is usually set for a maximum of 5 years. The countdown begins from the date when the intelligence officer learned about the ban, but only if the data has already lost its secrecy. Otherwise, the period of non-exit increases, and the Russian will not be able to go abroad.

In order for the condition to be met, the foreign passports of police officers and military personnel are kept by the FMS, which makes it all the more difficult for workers of these services to travel abroad.

Will the ban be lifted?

Information periodically appears in the media that the restriction on holidays abroad for employees of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation will soon be lifted. Not long ago there were rumors that it would become possible to visit 30 “forbidden” states.

There is unofficial information that a document on lifting the ban for some countries is actually being prepared. But according to Interior Ministry officials, it must be thoroughly checked. Such data cannot be distributed among ordinary employees bypassing management.

No one has yet predicted when exactly free border crossing with other countries will be allowed. Many police officers and military personnel, communicating on forums on the Internet, write that such an opportunity will arise only after the political situation in the world has stabilized.

Situation in 2015

On February 17, 2015, there was an official statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation that the instruction on the restriction had been communicated to employees.

The order applies to everyone: management personnel, district police officers, and operatives are limited in traveling abroad. Visits to the CIS countries, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are allowed.

Representative of the Moscow police union M. Pashkin, in an interview, said that the notification is not a ban, but a recommendation. Management follows this advice, since in the event of an emergency, the boss will directly suffer.

At the same time, M. Pashkin noted that in 2015 the number of payments to employees is decreasing, this primarily concerns bonuses. In his opinion, holidays abroad are not justified, so most employees will not feel the ban.

Exit Ban Law

After June 2015, the ban is no longer considered a regulation, as a draft law is being discussed that will enshrine the effect of the Directive at the legislative level. The initiator of this is Dmitry Nosov, who is a representative of the Liberal Democratic Party.

The proposal concerns not only employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but security forces of the Russian Federation. They will not be allowed to travel abroad. Such actions are justified by concern for protecting the country from the intelligence services of other states.

Law enforcement officers are recommended to vacation in Crimea, Gelendzhik, Sochi and other resort areas in Russia.

Is it possible for military and police officers to go on vacation to Turkey and Egypt in 2019?

However, in recent years, the flow of tourists to these countries has decreased and this is not only due to the tension and war in Syria, but also to the fall in incomes of Russians. Now a holiday in Sochi or Anapa for most is becoming much cheaper than flights and overseas hotels.

The corresponding order was signed by Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika at the end of April, according to a source in the supervisory department.

State Duma Deputy Alexander Khinshtein noted that the corresponding advisory telegram was sent to all departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In addition, last week Russian prosecutors became banned from traveling. The order was signed by Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika. The publication was unable to obtain an official comment.

A significant portion of wealthy and sophisticated citizens go there every season. However, in recent years, the flow of tourists to these countries has decreased and this is not only due to the tension and war in Syria, but also to the fall in incomes of Russians. Now a holiday in Sochi or Anapa for most is becoming much cheaper than flights and overseas hotels.

Niyat is the basis of worship and the soul of any of our actions. The most sacred deeds can be corrupted only because of the wrong intention that lies behind them, and the simplest deeds can become especially blessed due to the good intentions that lie behind them.

As follows from the recommendations of personnel officers, Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, India, Spain, Israel and all EU countries were banned. The permitted list includes Vietnam, China, Tunisia, Morocco, UAE, Maldives, Cambodia and Indonesia, as well as Iran, Moldova, Uganda, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.

Due to the introduction of US sanctions against Russia, FSO employees are not recommended to visit those countries with which the US has concluded agreements on mutual extradition. The list of countries allowed to visit included Iran, Moldova, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Vietnam, Tunisia, China, Morocco, UAE, Maldives, Cambodia and Indonesia. For readers: in Russia, the organizations “National Bolshevik Party”, “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, “Army of the People’s Will”, “Russian National Union”, “Movement against Illegal Immigration”, “Right Sector”, UNA-UNSO, are recognized as extremist and banned. UPA, “Trident named after.

As follows from the recommendations of personnel officers, Turkey, Egypt, Thailand, India, Spain, Israel and all EU countries were banned.

At the end of April, recommendations on strengthening the secrecy protection regime were sent to their employees by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and the Federal Drug Control Service. According to the deputy chairman of the Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, Alexander Khinshtein, a corresponding telegram was sent to all departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but the instruction was advisory in nature.

The fact that FSO employees will no longer be able to vacation in Greece, Thailand, Spain, Turkey and 104 other countries was told to RBC by one of the department’s employees and confirmed by an employee of the FSO office. “I received an email from the HR department with a letter indicating the countries that are now banned and in which you can vacation.

Let us remind you that on April 28, the United States imposed sanctions against 7 Russian citizens and 17 companies in connection with the situation in Ukraine.

Each employee needs to remember that before going on vacation, he must write a report to his immediate commander or superior, and only after approval by management does a trip abroad become possible.

In connection with events taking place in the world, we urge you to sober and balanced comments on materials on our website. We respect every person's right to express their opinion. At the same time, the editors of the Khakassia news agency do not welcome calls for the overthrow of power, aggression, extremism, and interethnic hostility. The fact that FSO employees will no longer be able to vacation in Greece, Thailand, Spain, Turkey and 104 other countries was told to RBC by one of the department’s employees and confirmed by an employee of the FSO office. “I received an email from the HR department with a letter indicating the countries that are now banned and in which you can vacation.

Reasons for restricting travel abroad for police officers

As we have already found out, the law does not provide for restrictions on travel abroad for police officers (as, for example, in relation to FSB officers or conscripts). In 2021, a bill was introduced to the State Duma, which proposed to clearly regulate the travel ban for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs holding specific positions. However, it was withdrawn.

It turns out that the only basis that may be applicable is cases where police officers are allowed access to information containing state secrets

We are talking about the so-called first and second forms of secrecy, that is, access to information classified as “special importance” and “top secret.” It is clear that such access is granted only to high-ranking employees, starting with department heads

Ordinary police officers (traffic police inspectors, district police officers) do not have such powers, and therefore this provision of the law is not applicable to them. But it's not that simple.

Since 2014, the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has annually issued internal directives/decrees/recommendations, setting travel restrictions for employees. For example, in 2014, a list of countries not recommended for visiting was published, and at the end of 2017, a list of states to which employees can travel without problems was published. More on this below.

These internal documents answer the question of why police officers are not allowed to travel abroad. This is due to the military-political, criminal, sanitary-epidemiological and natural-climatic situation. They say that in this way the management is trying to protect employees from provocations, ensure their safety and at the same time protect state secrets. However, it is obvious that such a total restriction for all personnel is illegal. The leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also admits this, confirming that there is no official ban, there are only recommendations. However, for several years now, there has been a local practice of forcing employees to hand over their passports to their superiors for safekeeping.

The Investigative Committee, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Defense, the Federal Security Service, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Migration Service (a division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) and even some courts also fell under this unspoken ban. In this case, there are also no official orders or internal departmental directives. According to department officials, the authorities refer to the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For example, in response to an official request from journalists, the leadership of the Federal Penitentiary Service responded that a ban on FSIN employees traveling abroad has not been introduced - the rules established by Federal Law No. 114 apply.

Is it possible for Russian military personnel to travel abroad?

Therefore, staying on the territory of such countries poses a potential threat both for the officer and for the state as a whole.

The organization of a secrecy regime when military personnel travel abroad does not provide for a lifelong ban on visiting foreign countries. Citizens who served in the Russian army by conscription can go on a trip abroad immediately after demobilization. The period of the ban for military personnel with access to state secrets is specified in their employment contract.

Most often, the restriction is valid for 5 years from the date of last access to secret documents, which usually occurs after the end of the contract. And if the confidentiality of information is maintained for more than 5 years, this period is extended. The maximum limitation period is 10 years from the date of dismissal or holding a position involving working with classified information.

In addition to military personnel of the Russian army, travel to the territory of foreign states is also limited for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Russian Guard, the Federal Security Service and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Members of the Russian army have three forms of security clearance. Officers, warrant officers and sergeants with 3rd form of clearance, when performing their official duties, work with information that is a state secret.

There are no significant restrictions on travel outside the Russian Federation for them.

Military personnel with the 3rd form of clearance are prohibited from being on the territory of Ukraine. On an individual basis, travel to this country must be approved by the command.

The list of permitted countries for travel with Form 2 of clearance, which involves working with top secret data, is as follows:

Abkhazia; Azerbaijan; Armenia; Vietnam; Belarus; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Cuba; China; Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Kyrgyzstan; South Ossetia.

Due to the unstable situation, military personnel are not recommended to visit the territory of Turkey and Egypt. In 2021, previously allowed countries Brazil, India, Dominican Republic, Thailand, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Montenegro, Maldives, United Arab Emirates and Morocco were banned.

Military personnel with the first form of security clearance come into contact with highly classified information. Their travel to any country must be permitted by management. It should be noted that military personnel are prohibited from traveling to the United States and other states that are members of the NATO alliance, since they are considered a potential enemy.

Russian military personnel are also prohibited from being on the territory of states where they can be detained and extradited at the request of US authorities. The restriction also applies to countries with which Russia does not have a valid extradition treaty.

The full list of states not recommended for visiting by the Russian military is presented in the following table. The procedure for Russian military personnel traveling abroad consists of the following important steps: Any citizen of the Russian Federation needs a foreign passport to travel abroad.

The opinion of police officers on the ban on traveling abroad

The number of those working in the police is 1.325 million. Their reaction to the current situation is ambiguous, since holidays abroad are often cheaper than within the Russian Federation. Competition and a wide range of holiday destinations made it possible to have a cheap holiday in Turkey, Egypt and other countries.

Most of all, this restriction affected those who live in the Far Eastern District or the Kaliningrad Region, since it is much closer and faster for them to get to resort areas in other countries.

There are those employees who take this news calmly: some are used to vacationing in Russia or the CIS countries, others believe that their income does not allow them to vacation abroad.

There are those who are indignant and perplexed: what secret information does the district police officer know? Many consider the ban unconstitutional and restrictive of freedom.

Vladimir Putin explained why the ban even affected local police officers:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cgqhAH6aRYc%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Investigation into how employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs circumvent the ban:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zSk7yTXbdJQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed

While the law has not yet been adopted, there is no exact information about whether police officers will be able to visit foreign countries.

Are there any changes for the better?

The list of countries prohibited from leaving includes members of the UN, the European Union, the USA, South America and Australia. Travel to alternative destinations is permitted. For example, security forces can freely vacation in the Maldives, Tunisia and Vietnam. The list of countries allowed for employees to travel to in 2017 (according to Order No. 360 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation) also includes:

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Armed Forces can also go on vacation to warm CIS countries, for example, Georgia, Ossetia and Abkhazia. Those who are passionate about history and architecture will be interested in Armenia and Uzbekistan, and those who like a more European way of life will be interested in Latvia, Belarus and Moldova. The list of taboo powers and those to which law enforcement officers can travel changes over time, as the situation in the international arena is unstable.

Which countries can you still travel to without hindrance, but are not recommended? These include African states. The political situation there is always difficult.

To go on a trip abroad, a serviceman must submit a report and obtain approval from his superiors. However, department management is not loyal everywhere. In one region it is easy to obtain permission, in another you need to fulfill several conditions, in a third it is completely impossible. The order of the Ministry of Defense, which formally is still a recommendation, is interpreted differently in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

List of countries where military personnel are allowed to travel in 2021

The law applies to those whose service is related to State secrets. The limitation period is equal to the period of time for which the contract is concluded. The law was adopted due to complications in international relations in the world and in order to protect state security.

On the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs you can see a fairly large list of countries where employees of the Russian Guard are prohibited from entering and a short list of countries where employees can go on vacation.

The list of permitted countries includes states recommended by the Association of Tour Operators of the Russian Federation. In 2021, employees of the Russian Guard will be able to safely travel to the following countries:

Cuba; China; Vietnam; Abkhazia; South Ossetia; Tajikistan; Belarus; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan; Kazakhstan; Azerbaijan; Armenia; Kyrgyzstan. The first country on the list of banned countries is the United States.

Where can police and military personnel vacation abroad in 2021?

In July 2021, Turkish President Erdogan sent written condolences about what happened, and therefore the incident was settled and Russians were again allowed to fly to Turkey on vacation.

As for flights to Egypt, difficulties also occurred with this state and flight bans were introduced for all tourists from Russia after a Russian Airbus A321 plane crashed over the Sinai Peninsula, as a result of which all passengers (and there were 224 people on board) ) died tragically.

Not so long ago, literally at the beginning of 2021, Rostourism published permission to resume regular tourist flights to Egypt. However, for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the Federal Security Service, military personnel, and representatives of other law enforcement agencies, a complete ban on visiting Turkey and Egypt for recreation remained until mid-2021.

However, already on June 26, 2021, the authorized

List of countries where military personnel can travel 2021

Restrictive measures may be associated with a deterioration in the political situation in potential host countries.

But refusal on these grounds is not a serious obstacle to a tourist voyage. A civil servant does not have the right to cross the border of the Russian Federation for about 5 years from the moment he became aware of data of particular importance. For military personnel, the restriction is lifted after their demobilization.

Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Cameroon, Kyrgyzstan, China, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, UAE, Oman, Thailand, Tajikistan, Tunisia , Sri Lanka, South Africa.

(27 countries in total) Countries excluded from the previous list: Andorra, Hungary, Moldova, Norway, Slovenia, Ukraine, Croatia and Montenegro.

Additionally excluded: Türkiye and Egypt. For military personnel with the third form of clearance (aware only of sec.

information)

Current restrictions for military personnel to leave the country

These include:

1. concerning the procedure for leaving and entering the Russian Federation;
2. , fixing the procedure for obtaining documents according to which a serviceman can leave Russia.
3. Law of July 21, 1993 no.

indicates a temporary restriction on departure from Russia for employees of the federal security service.

Upon completion, the restriction is lifted, and the citizen can freely leave the territory of the country. In the same paragraph 1 of Art.

15 clarifies the possibility of extending the secrecy period to 10 years.

Features of travel abroad by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other structures in 2021

This preference is used only by those employees who have access to information that has a slight degree of secrecy.

Those who possess information of particular importance cannot travel to foreign countries. But there are circumstances that increase the relevance of crossing the territory of the Russian Federation.

In order, for example, to neutralize the ban on employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs traveling abroad, you should contact the command to issue a permit. This right can be exercised by representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Penitentiary Service, the FSB, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Access to state secrets is not the only reason why employees of special institutions are not allowed to leave Russia.

Restrictive measures may be associated with a deterioration in the political situation in potential host countries. But refusal on these grounds is not a serious obstacle to a tourist voyage. A civil servant does not

Traveling abroad for military personnel in 2021 2021

determines that in order to cross the border of the Russian Federation, a citizen must have a service or diplomatic passport.

For military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, except for those serving on conscription, as well as for employees of federal executive authorities and federal state bodies, if they have military service, the procedure for traveling abroad begins in accordance with Art. Previously, residents of these settlements often traveled abroad, since other countries are located closer to them than to the rest of Russia.

The list of countries prohibited from leaving includes members of the UN, the European Union, the USA, South America and Australia. Travel to alternative destinations is permitted.

For example, security forces can freely vacation in the Maldives, Tunisia and Vietnam. The list of countries allowed for employees to travel in 2021 (according to Order No. 360 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation) also includes: Myanmar; Macedonia;

On the other hand, traveling to countries hostile to Russia can endanger a serviceman and even pose a threat to his life. "Removed" from it:

1. Brazil;
2. Morocco;
3. Cyprus;
4. Thailand;
5. India
6. and many other countries
7. Tunisia;

And Egypt and Türkiye are on a special list of countries prohibited from leaving.

Still, you need to understand that service to service is different and not all categories of military personnel are subject to such strict restrictions, but they differ in the level of access to classified information.

There are only three of these levels, so let's start with the third.

The third form of clearance is a category of military personnel who possess minor secret information, most likely even formally secret, so their knowledge cannot be of significant interest to foreign intelligence.

Is it possible for Russian military personnel to travel abroad?

To travel as a tourist, you must obtain permission from the department's leadership in accordance with official instructions.

Persons with access to state secrets. The restriction can be lifted only after a certain time has elapsed from the date of dismissal. Citizens undergoing military or alternative conscription service.

Contract soldiers can leave Russia with the permission of the command of the military unit. Criminals sentenced to imprisonment, as well as those released on parole or serving a suspended sentence. Permission to leave can only be obtained after expunging a criminal record.

Persons whom investigative authorities suspect or accuse of committing crimes.

Citizens who evade execution of court decisions.

These are mainly defaulters on loans, alimony and other financial obligations, whose debt amount has reached 30,000 rubles or more.

Permitted countries for travel of FSO employees

It is worth considering that each case is unique, and solving a separate issue requires an individual approach.

To find out how to act specifically in your case, we recommend using a free consultation at +7 (499) 288-17-58 for Moscow and Moscow Region, for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region.

There are a total of 13 countries on the list, which were selected based on the following factors: – military-political situation; – crime situation; – sanitary and epidemiological situation; - military-political situation.

Law enforcement officers are allowed to travel to the following countries in 2021: – South Ossetia; – Armenia; – Azerbaijan; – Abkhazia; – Uzbekistan; – Tajikistan; – Turkmenistan; - Kazakhstan; – Kyrgyzstan; – Belarus; – Vietnam; – China; - Cuba.

This order does not give law enforcement officers full-fledged travel to the specified countries for vacation.

Reasons for restrictions

The ban on visiting other countries for law enforcement officers did not arise out of nowhere. There are two problems because of which the authorities are trying not to release these citizens to other countries:

• presence of state secrets;
• insecurity for the Russians themselves.

The letter, which is of an advisory nature, explains that it is necessary to prohibit foreign travel in order to avoid disclosure of information if the security officer is aware of state or official secrets. The situation is quite serious, but the last word remains with the employee’s management and is bound by his form of access to secret documents. At the same time, it is difficult for a police officer who has the right to work with “special” papers to prove that in fact he does not touch them.

Secrecy in law enforcement agencies is divided into 3 main groups:

• 1 admission form. This is particularly important data. They are available only to officials and heads of departments.
• 2nd category. Information classified as “Top Secret”. It can be received by ordinary operational workers.
• 3 form of admission. Secret information used for official purposes.

The letter of recommendation applies to employees of the first and second categories; this condition does not apply to the third.

The authorities respect the principle of protecting Russian citizens, and therefore attach importance to the safety of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This is relevant due to the fact that residents of the Russian Federation may have trouble in countries that have signed an extradition agreement with the United States. After all, being within these states, Russians are forced to obey their laws. Therefore, the recommendation in fact became an order, and the security forces took away their foreign passports. The travel ban has, first of all, a moral basis. It appeared with the aim of protecting the life and health of citizens of the Russian Federation.

In a number of countries (there are 120 of them) it is unsafe for military personnel to stay, since US intelligence services operate there.

The restriction on travel abroad also applies to family members of Russian security forces - parents, children and spouses.

Where are employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other security forces of Russia allowed to rest in 2021?

Apparently in 2021, Western countries will continue to impose sanctions pressure on Russia, while at the same time they will receive an adequate response. But in this regard, let us draw attention to the ban on visiting abroad for Russian citizens from among the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. What should they do, where can they relax during their well-deserved vacation?

There was no official ban for a long time

Information sometimes appeared on the Internet that employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs should not leave Russia. Some called it a myth because there was no official document in the form of a law or government decree. This was not regulated in any way, so it was believed that these were rumors.

When did they explain that this was true?

Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that an order had been received regarding a ban on the travel abroad of civil servants of the department and FSB employees who have access to secret documents of various categories.

How can security forces rest?

During the vacation period, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs still have the opportunity to visit territories from the CIS member states, the Republic of Crimea or the Krasnodar Territory, in particular the cities of Sochi, Gelendzhik, Tuapse.

But FSB employees are generally prohibited from leaving Russian territory. This applies to individuals with security clearance and is divided into three categories.

Was there also an order from the FSB?

No! Everything is more serious here, since the work is more responsible and critical for the state. As of December 16, 2021, FSB officers are guided by the legal acts of Federal Law F3-433. Everything is clearly written there. For 5 years, even former employees of the department do not have the right to cross the Russian border.

Why are security measures being tightened in 2021?

If everything is clear with FSB employees with access to classified information, then with the Ministry of Internal Affairs the situation is not clear and very confusing. Based on the order, they are prohibited from visiting countries that have concluded an extradition treaty with the United States during 2021. But what is the danger for the state if they do not work with important and especially classified information, there are two reasons:

1. The need to maintain state secrets. The fact is that some police officers, especially those with a high rank, have access to important or low-category secret information
2. Unfortunately, American intelligence services intend to seek out Russian security forces to create various provocations

So who does the order affect in 2021?

The order primarily affects employees of the Main Department of Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, military personnel, Rosgvardeytsev and Federal Drug Control Service, as well as some civilians. In other words, everyone who works in the Russian Ministry of Defense is obliged by contract to comply with this order.

In some regions, the authorities exceeded the order

Police officers in some regions have begun to confiscate international passports. This is happening especially massively in Kaliningrad and the Far East. Security forces are offered an alternative: vacation in China, Cuba or Vietnam.

What to do if you need to travel abroad?

Any security officer, if necessary, can apply for appropriate forgiveness for permission to travel abroad. The employee must describe the route and purpose of the trip. After this, the boss decides to approve or reject forgiveness. If it is approved, a foreign passport is issued and you can travel outside the country.

So where should security forces relax in 2021?

Unfortunately, there is a tense situation in the world in 2021, the list of permitted countries has been significantly reduced. Now it looks like this:

• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Abkhazia
• Belarus
• Vietnam
• Kazakhstan
• China
• Cuba
• Thailand
• Tajikistan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Turkmenistan
• Türkiye
• Uzbekistan
• South Ossetia

The Maldives Islands were added to the employees of the Russian National Guard. In general, the list of countries is sufficient for choosing a versatile holiday. It is possible to visit historical places, excursions to the mountains, and relax on the beach.

Exceptional situation

In an exceptional situation, any law enforcement officer may be allowed to visit a prohibited country. To do this, you must obtain permission from your superiors.

At the moment, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, like ordinary citizens, hope that tension in the world will subside and this list will expand. Perhaps in 2022 there will be more countries allowed to visit for a well-deserved vacation.

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Which countries can you visit?

The number of countries that are subject to restrictions is enormous. Police officers can visit China, Morocco, UAE, Cambodia, Indonesia. You can also go to the Maldives, Vietnam or Tunisia. Allowed to visit CIS countries.

In September 2015, the list of countries that police officers can visit was announced; it consists of 30 foreign countries.

Appendix to the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation No. 360 “List of foreign countries to which employees of the Main Directorate and subordinate units can go on tourist trips, taking into account the current international situation.”

Entry into Turkey and Egypt was banned for Russians after incidents with the crash of a Russian plane in the Sinai and the downing of a Su-24 bomber near the Turkish border.

To obtain the right to travel to one of the permitted countries, an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation writes a report and waits for the manager’s decision. If management does not object, he can visit one of the permitted countries.

Permitted countries for travel abroad for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

A list of countries to which they are strongly advised not to travel has been compiled for employees of the Federal Security Service.

So, for Russian prosecutors they compiled a list of one hundred and seventy-three points. The same ban was introduced for police officers with access to classified information, operational workers, investigators and senior staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

However, such a restriction cannot apply to spouses, children or other relatives of employees. Marriage to an FSB employee is not grounds for a travel ban.

There are only 27 states on the permitted list. True, there are several countries in it that are popular among Russian tourists. Vietnam, China, Tunisia, Morocco, UAE, Maldives, Cambodia and Indonesia remain open to security forces. Iran, Moldova, Uganda, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso are also allowed to visit.

What difficulties may arise when crossing the border?

Even if a law enforcement officer has obtained approval to visit another state and has completed all the necessary documents, he is still likely to encounter difficulties when crossing the border. Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, like ordinary citizens, may not be allowed to cross the border if:

• They evade execution of court orders passed against them.
• They have an outstanding debt to the bank.
• Have utility debts or unpaid fines on a particularly large scale.

If such circumstances exist, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will not be allowed to cross the border. However, if they are eliminated, namely by paying fines or debts, all restrictions can be lifted within two weeks.

Countries to which employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are allowed to travel in 2021

The most recent internal document that regulates the list of countries that employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are allowed to travel to is the minister’s order dated December 26, 2021. That is, the list approved on the eve of 2021 is still relevant today.

The list contains 13 states of the world, of which ten are located in the former USSR (including Abkhazia and South Ossetia, recognized only by Russia) and three countries outside the Soviet Union.

In 2021, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are allowed to travel to the following countries (non-CIS countries are highlighted in bold):

1. Abkhazia,
2. Armenia,
3. Azerbaijan,
4. Belarus,
5. Vietnam,
6. Kazakhstan,
7. Kyrgyzstan,
8. China,
9. Cuba,
10. Uzbekistan,
11. Tajikistan,
12. Turkmenistan,
13. South Ossetia.

In fact, of the popular destinations for foreign holidays among Russians, only Vietnam is on the list.

Abkhazia is also suitable for a seaside holiday. The option with Cuba in this sense is rather theoretical, since the cost of a trip to this state will be impressive and affordable for few.

Most of the other countries to which employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are allowed to travel are suitable either for a non-beach holiday or for trips to visit friends, relatives or former colleagues in post-Soviet republics.

List of authorized countries for military 2021

Military personnel without access to secrets are also limited in their right to visit certain foreign countries.

For military personnel serving in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its structures, there is a special Order dated August 21, 2015, number 360-DSP. This act lists the states where they can enter freely.

Previously, the list included about 30 countries. Due to changes to this order for 2021, military personnel can travel to the territory of only 13 states. Among them:

1. China;
2. South Ossetia;
3. Uzbekistan;
4. Tajikistan.
5. Cuba;
6. Vietnam;
7. Abkhazia;
8. Turkmenistan;
9. Azerbaijan;
10. Armenia;
11. Kyrgyzstan;
12. Kazakhstan;
13. Belarus;

A serviceman who intends to leave Russia abroad needs to arrange his trip step by step.

If entry into a state is possible with a domestic Russian passport, then there is no need to obtain a foreign one. In countries where entry is possible only with a foreign passport, its preliminary registration is required. The process of registering a military trip abroad goes through the following stages:

• Submitting a report to an authorized person in accordance with clause 3 of the Procedure developed on the basis of Order No. 378 dated June 10, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the Procedure). The application must indicate the purpose, date of travel and country. The route and accompanying persons are also indicated. At the end of the report, the military man asks to be given a foreign passport for his trip. The application must be signed and must contain the date of preparation.
• Review of the report by an authorized person. In this case, the citizen provides documents that confirm his access to state secrets or other classified information. A note about the lack of access to classified information is made by the official on the report in accordance with clause 13 of the Procedure.
• After approval, the citizen receives a certificate in a special form, which is submitted personally to the government agency responsible for issuing passports (according to clauses 10-11 of the Procedure). There he receives a passport in hand for the trip.
• The endorsed report is transferred to the personnel department (according to clause 14 of the Procedure).
• All submitted documentation is sent by the personnel department to the security authority. They are in agreement. The requirement is stated in clause 9 of the Procedure.

Please note: If a military personnel is issued a new international passport, it may take a maximum of three months to obtain it, starting from the date on which the application for its issuance was submitted.

At the same time, the foreign passports that individuals have upon entering the service are handed over for special storage to the department in which they serve.

This is possible in a situation where a citizen had access to secret information (Part 5 of Article 10 114-FZ). The rules for storing and issuing foreign passports for those liable for military service are regulated by Order No. 378 dated June 10, 2013. Within the framework of it, the Procedure for the delivery and storage of documentation that verifies a person’s identity is in effect.

Will the restriction on police travel abroad be lifted in 2021?

Theoretically this is possible. At the beginning of June 2021, the Supreme Court of Russia will begin to consider the merits of the claim of former police officer Maxim Luzhnykh.

The former commander of one of the platoons of the Moscow traffic police was dismissed from the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs after he visited Bulgaria and the Dominican Republic during his vacation in 2021, contrary to the ban of the management.

Now Luzhnykh is challenging not only the legality of his dismissal, but also the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs, which introduced restrictions on foreign travel for employees in principle.

The fact is that the ban is not regulated by anything other than Order No. 705-dsp dated September 12, 2013 “On certain issues of travel of police officers, federal civil servants and employees of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs system on private matters outside the territory of the Russian Federation.”

Restriction period

If we talk about official restrictions, they are regulated by paragraph 1 of Art. 15 Federal Law No. 114. Thus, if an employee had access to secret or particularly important data, the period of validity of the travel ban for him is established by the employment contract, but not more than 5 years from the date of the last acquaintance with such papers. If classified information remains relevant, the period of travel restrictions may be extended by the state secrets commission. In this case, the total period of limitation cannot exceed 10 years.

It is also impossible to exclude prohibitions that may arise for police officers for other reasons. For example, in case of evasion of obligations imposed by the court (for example, if there are debts on loans), the bailiffs may impose a ban on leaving, which will be valid for six months and can be extended until the debt is fully repaid.

If we talk about the practice of applying an unspoken restriction based on an internal order of the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it does not have a validity period. Over the past 4 years, decisions have been issued annually that approve lists of countries not/recommended for visiting, which are valid until new orders.

Which countries can military personnel travel to in 2021?

Despite the right of free movement guaranteed to every citizen by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the law also allows in exceptional cases to limit this right.

This is not necessarily a punishment - travel can also be restricted in the case of military service or equivalent service in law enforcement agencies and the security service.

We offer to understand why military personnel are not allowed to travel abroad, what exceptions are provided, what is the procedure for leaving, and who is generally prohibited or restricted from traveling abroad.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, has approved a list of countries where employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are allowed to travel in 2021. The list lists 13 states that are considered safe for police officers.

Among them: Vietnam, Cuba, China, Abkhazia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and South Ossetia. According to the approved list, civil servants can also go on vacation.

I would like to recall the fact that Russian police officers were prohibited from going on vacation in the spring of 2021 due to the international political situation.

For whom travel is restricted

Before leaving the country, in order to avoid excesses when crossing the state border, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the list of restrictions established by law. They are determined by the provisions of Art. 15 Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation.”

According to it, military personnel are prohibited from traveling abroad if they:

• called up for military service or assigned to civilian service as an alternative;
• are employees of the FSB;
• serve under a contract and, due to their official duty, are allowed access to particularly important or top secret information that is a state secret.

In the latter case, access to secret information presupposes the conclusion of an employment contract, which provides for some restrictions on civil rights.

Moreover, according to paragraphs. 5, 7 of the Instructions approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 63 of 06.02. 2021, in case of obtaining access to secret and sensitive data, the person must agree in writing to partial restrictions on his own freedoms.

Responsibilities regarding such restrictions are prescribed in the employment contract or in the form of an additional document signed by the secret keeper. Among such bans is the restriction of travel outside the Russian Federation for military personnel.

Each citizen who, for the above reasons, is limited in the right to leave Russia due to his place of service or storage of state secrets, the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs sends a notification that defines specific restrictions, the reasons for their occurrence and the period of their validity.

Duration of restrictions

Each of the above categories has its own limitation period. The validity period of the restriction on military travel abroad is determined by Art.

15 Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation” and amounts to:

• for conscripts, including under the ACS - from the moment the draft commission makes a decision on conscription until the end of their term of service;
• for FSB employees - until the end of the employment contract;
• for persons admitted to secret information - before the expiration of the restriction period in the employment contract. In most cases, it does not exceed 5 years from the date of the last acquaintance with secret documents. If the secrecy remains relevant even after the expiration of this period, it can be increased, but in total it should not be more than 10 years.

Why don't they release

The law does not specify specific reasons why military personnel cannot leave the country. Taking into account the practice and policy of the state, it is assumed that the prohibition is in effect to:

• Protection of state secrets: restrictions on the right to leave the country should be considered as one of the measures to protect state secrets, designed to protect it from declassification. Persons possessing secret information voluntarily agree to the restriction, therefore such measures are legal.
• Protection of military personnel. Representatives of the Armed Forces, FSB officers, police officers and other persons who are military personnel and equated to them, given the current military-political situation, may become the target of recruitment or encroachment by the intelligence services of hostile foreign states.
• Ensuring decisions of draft commissions. The entry ban begins to apply from the moment a citizen becomes a conscript, that is, after the draft commission makes a decision on conscription. Draft evasion is a criminal offense. To prevent a citizen from escaping conscription abroad, there is a restriction on travel.

Please note that travel restrictions are not the only restrictive measure. So, many are interested in whether military personnel are prohibited from owning real estate abroad.

This ban applies in Russia to all civil servants.

Moreover, for employees of the FSB and state security, the presence of real estate outside the Russian Federation is fraught with dismissal and alienation of property within the time limits established by special laws.

Countries where entry is allowed

Let us note that a categorical ban on leaving the country applies only to conscripts and those serving under the ACS.

In relation to other military personnel employed under a contract, as well as employees of those structures that provide for military service, in accordance with Art.

19 Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”, departure is possible, but only with permission from senior management. However, in this case there are some restrictions.

In particular, back in 2021, the General Staff approved a directive that identified 39 countries recommended for military personnel and civil servants of the Ministry of Defense, who are “secretaries,” for vacation.

The directive instructs commanders who issue the appropriate permits to take into account the military-political situation in the country to which the military is planning to travel, and not to allow them into countries if they are not included in the specified list.

The permitted countries that command can agree to visit in 2021 include:

Registration of permission

According to Art. 7 Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”, leaving the country, including military personnel, is possible only with a passport. According to Art.

18 of the law, in the event of travel restrictions for military personnel, their passport is subject to transfer to authorized persons for storage throughout the entire period of the temporary restriction.

It will be issued to the owner, a military serviceman, only if he receives permission to leave.

The procedure for obtaining such a permit is determined by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1598 of December 19, 1997. According to it, permission for military personnel is issued either by the Minister of Defense or by the heads of other executive authorities where military service is provided. In this case, such permission must be agreed upon with the FSB.

The permit, in turn, is issued in the form of a certificate, the form of which is approved by the above resolution. The procedure for obtaining a foreign passport for servicemen of the internal troops was approved by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 378 of June 10. 2021.

Taking all this into account, to obtain a passport, military personnel are recommended to adhere to the following procedure:

1. Submit a corresponding report to the commander with a request for permission to leave.
   If the report is submitted by an employee who has access to state secrets, then the decision is made taking into account the relevance of the secret regime of the information to which the military man is admitted.

   If an employee is not allowed to access state secrets, he still submits a report on which a mark is placed indicating that he does not have access to secret information. Below is a sample report.

   Download (DOCX, 17KB)

2. Wait for a decision from the security service. After the report is endorsed by the commander, it, along with a package of documents, is submitted for approval to the FSB.
3. Issue a certificate of permission to obtain a passport and leave the country. The form of the certificate was approved by the annex to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1598 of December 19, 1997.
4. Get a passport. It is issued by the officials carrying out the storage. If a foreign passport is issued for the first time, this procedure is carried out at the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs in the general manner, with the submission of all necessary documents and the above certificate with permission.

Sample report for traveling abroad:

Please note that if a citizen has been denied permission to leave the country, he can appeal the refusal. Cancellation of the ban on military personnel traveling abroad, according to Art. 17 of the Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”, it is possible by way of appeal to the Interdepartmental Commission or in court.

Conclusion

The ban on military personnel leaving the Russian Federation is, firstly, due to the protection of state secrets, and secondly, the safety of the military personnel themselves.

However, the ban is only a form of restriction: even those contract servicemen who have access to military or state secrets can leave the country, but to do this they will need special permission from the command.

In addition, they can visit a limited list of countries - this is the requirement of the Ministry of Defense.

And finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is the status of the debtor that is easiest to “forget” when getting ready for your next vacation abroad.

The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid housing and communal services receipts, alimony or fines from the traffic police.

Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2021; we recommend finding out information about the presence of debt using the proven service nevylet.rf