Belarus confirms Russian draft-related travel bans also block exit via its border

Russian citizens who receive military draft notices and are restricted from leaving Russia will also be unable to exit the country via Belarus, according to the State Border Committee of Belarus.

The committee told Belsat that departure rules depend entirely on data provided by Russia. It said that if Russian authorities do not impose a travel ban and all documents are in order, individuals will be allowed to leave. However, if a restriction exists in Russian databases, exit will be denied regardless of the route.

“If the Russian Federation does not issue a ban and the documents are in order, the citizen will be allowed to leave,” the committee said, adding that decisions are based on Russian information systems.

The clarification follows reports from human rights activists of the first known case in which a Russian citizen was prevented from flying from Minsk to Tbilisi and onward to Yerevan after receiving a summons for a medical examination. The individual was reportedly flagged in a Russian electronic registry, indicating a travel restriction linked to military mobilisation procedures.

Observers suggest that border authorities in Russia and Belarus may now be exchanging data from military registration systems more systematically.

The Belarusian Border Committee confirmed the existence of a shared database and advised Russian citizens to verify their status with Russian authorities, stating: “If there are no travel restrictions, the citizen will be allowed to leave; if there is a ban, all questions should be directed to Russia.”

Previously, Russian conscripts and draft-eligible individuals could reportedly leave the Russia–Belarus “Union State” area without significant obstacles via Belarus.

By Sabina Mammadli