The United States Embassy in Moscow is urging U.S. nationals living in Russia to escape Russia immediately, while there is still a limited supply of commercial travel options.
In a security alert published on Tuesday evening, the embassy has shown that dual American-Russian nationals could be drafted into the Russian military or restricted from leaving Russia.
It said that, “Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ U.S. citizenship, deny their access to the U.S. consular assistance, prevent their departure from Russia, and conscript dual nationals for military service.”
The memo further mentioned that commercial flight options are “extremely limited” and often unavailable at short notice. “If you wish to leave Russia, you should make independent arrangements as soon as possible,” read the warning posted online, noting that the embassy itself was limited in its ability to assist U.S. nationals.
The embassy discouraged U.S. nationals from going to Russia and urged those who reside there or travel to the country to leave it as soon as possible, while limited options still exist.
The alert further recalled that the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression were not guaranteed in Russia. It added that the U.S. State Department was advising U.S. nationals to avoid protests and not to photograph security personnel during demonstrations.
Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens attending rallies, the security alert confirmed.
Several hundred people have been arrested in Russia in recent days during demonstrations against the mobilisation of reservists to fight in Ukraine, decreed last week by President Vladimir Putin.