Russians evading military service begin facing travel bans

Following the introduction of an electronic military registration system and the issuance of electronic summonses, Russians subject to military service are now being blocked from travelling abroad.

According to Caliber.Az, the first documented case occurred on September 11 at Sheremetyevo Airport, as reported by a Russian Telegram channel.

A 28-year-old man, who had previously evaded military service, received an electronic summons from the military registration and enlistment office for a medical examination. Although the summons website displayed a travel ban, he decided to test whether the restriction was enforceable, as he had planned a holiday abroad since May.

“At passport control at Sheremetyevo, officers immediately called someone without a word. They conducted an explanatory conversation, confirmed that the ban was indeed displayed in their database, and said they could not do anything about it. They noted that this was their first case of this kind under the new system,” the man recounted. Border officials added that only the military registration and enlistment office can lift the travel ban in person.

Since the summer, military registration and enlistment offices have been adding Russians to the military register in large numbers through electronic summonses. In a mass mailing, conscripts were invited to undergo authorisation and obtain an extract of their data. Lawyers and human rights activists described this as a large-scale effort to populate the database ahead of the autumn draft.

Experts suggested that this activity indicated the authorities’ intention to launch a full-scale register of summonses in 2025, a move that has now come into effect.

The first electronic draft notices began arriving in August this year, sent via the government portal Gosuslugi and SMS.

The notifications informed recipients of travel bans and included the date they were required to appear at the military registration and enlistment office. They also outlined restrictions imposed on those who evade conscription, including prohibitions on registering as a sole trader, obtaining a foreign passport, completing real estate transactions, taking out loans, or registering as self-employed. Draft dodgers may also face administrative fines ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 roubles (approximately $116–$350).

By Tamilla Hasanova