Not yet an “iron”, but already a curtain: it is almost impossible to leave Russia by car

The well-known Russian political scientist and journalist Sergey Medvedev, who often travels the world, reminded his readers that you cannot leave Russia by car - its land borders have been firmly locked for two years now. It is clear that the pandemic was the reason for this, however, not everything is so simple. According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of March 2020, all ground crossings for citizens of the Russian Federation are closed for exit for citizens. The only exceptions are foreign citizenship, residence permit, property abroad, a registered work contract and travel for treatment.

Just this last option is the most popular among our fellow citizens, as the only loophole.

Medvedev warns: “And none of your vaccines or invitations from border guards on the road will impress, they wrap up almost everyone. I found out about this while preparing for my traditional winter trip to Estonia by car, and now I’m changing plans for a plane (which, by the way, also doesn’t fly there now)..."

It is curious at the same time that in case of refusal to cross the border, the Russian border guards issue a document stating: “there are not enough grounds for DEPARTURE from the Russian Federation”

"Iron - not iron, but the tin curtain has already been built", - the author sums up.

In the comments, blog readers confirm that it has become almost impossible to leave Russia by car, and give specific examples:

- They don’t let you into Belarus by car either, you need a reason. We went several times, and every time they carefully checked. I went to Belarus by car and faced this lawlessness. I printed out a power of attorney to work on the Belarusian stock exchange and let me through. Belarusians advise buying vouchers for a couple of days in their sanatorium - this is a sufficient reason to cross the border. It is curious that no one has ever asked for covid tests, neither there nor back.

- This idiocy has already got it for a long time! And the borders of the Russian Federation themselves and now look generally comical and stupid. A hedgehog made of thorns, a barrier and another gate, everything is closed, it opens with the hands of a border guard. Why and who came up with it? A shame! Especially when you drive 200 meters (conditionally) and see the Estonian border: everything is open, one border guard (usually a girl), a person with a passport and .... Everything!

- Estonian spa hotels issue invitations for treatment very easily, and full buses and cars pass at the border with them (personal experience). But the nonsense of a ban on leaving for a civilized vaccinated country from an uncivilized unvaccinated country - when you can fly by plane to the same uncivilized unvaccinated country at any moment - gets, of course.

- I thought that the same situation is only for Georgia. It's the same there. We are going to go skiing in Gudauri. They wanted to fly through Vladikavkaz and then by car. We find out - the entrance to Georgia by car is closed. As a result, we fly through Gyumri, then by car to Tbilisi and further to Gudauri. Horror. And back from Georgia by car is easy.

- Yes, and they don’t let you out on foot. At least to Ukraine. The grounds for “exit” are only trips to close relatives (in a direct line), real estate in the country of departure, and treatment, except for a residence permit, citizenship and work. In fact, all this is accepted regardless of the method of leaving Russia, but when taking off by plane, all this is not asked. In June 2021, they were allowed to leave not once a year for these reasons, but many times....

- They don't let us Ukrainians into Crimea. Only if there are relatives in a direct line. And also under the pretext of covid, but in fact with the aim of squeezing real estate from us. I was born and raised there, but I can't move in. All my direct relatives are dead. Mayhem.

- By the way, although it is possible to fly out of the Russian Federation without restrictions, the frequency of questions from border guards about the purpose of flying abroad and the grounds for entering another country has greatly increased over the past two years. The last time I was stubbornly interrogated at the entrance (!) to the Russian Federation, what I did in Berlin and on what basis I stayed there.