Moscow, December 12, 2024 – The Europe Today: The Russian Foreign Ministry has issued a strong advisory to Russian nationals, urging them to avoid non-essential trips to the US and allied countries, including Canada and the European Union, due to the increasing risk of being targeted by American authorities.
According to Maria Zakharova, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, traveling to the US poses “serious risks” due to the escalating confrontation in Russian-American relations. She warned that the US authorities are using “fraudulent schemes” to lure Russians abroad and prosecute them for political reasons, putting them at risk of being “hunted down” by secret services.
“For the upcoming holidays and beyond, we strongly advise against non-emergency visits to the US and allied countries,” Zakharova said. “When staying abroad, you should avoid situations that may lead to provocations and detention under the pretext of supposedly violating local laws.”
The ministry is urging Russian citizens to consider potential “tragic incidents” on foreign soil when planning trips abroad, citing the US justice system as being unable to provide a fair trial. The warning comes as tensions between Russia and the US continue to escalate over the conflict in Ukraine, with multiple Russian nationals being blacklisted by the US government.
Zakharova highlighted several high-profile cases of Russians being detained and prosecuted in the US on trumped-up charges, including businessman Viktor Bout, pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, and activist Maria Butina. The ministry is concerned that more Russian nationals may be at risk of being targeted by American authorities.
In light of these concerns, the Russian Foreign Ministry is advising citizens to exercise extreme caution when traveling abroad and to carefully consider any potential risks before making non-essential trips.
