The US State Department has advised Americans against traveling to Russia because of the deteriorating relations between the two countries. The US and European Union have levied heavy sanctions on Russia after the country’s involvement in Ukraine, and other reports say that American intelligence agencies claim Russian officials were behind cyber attacks during the 2016 election.
This advisory is very unusual as such a warning was not issued even during the Cold War, when bilateral relations were at their worst. While there are no travel restrictions imposed by either side, those who travel should be aware that an attack or accident could happen anywhere at any time. The rise of terrorist attacks around the world also concern those travelling.
Americans should know that they can apply for a visa through the Russian embassy or consulate in case they do travel to Russia, but the country has denied many visa requests. They should also be prepared for expensive and time-consuming procedures in case they do visit Russia.
Americans should not take this warning lightly as there is a high risk of misunderstanding and hostility between these two countries. It would be wise to carefully consider before traveling to Russia because it could turn into a dangerous situation.
Anyone who chooses to go on travel in Russia are warned of the dangers that can happen while they’re abroad, including avoidance of airspace when flying through Russian airspace. American citizens are also encouraged to register with embassies or consulates in Russia in case help is needed elsewhere. Anyone choosing to ignore these warnings are told to leave notes for future travelers if anything happens during the trip; this way people know where you were going and what kind of things you were planning on doing there.
The new warning replaces an existing travel warning issued in October that discouraged but did not explicitly prohibit travel to Russia, saying U.S. citizens should be aware that they could be vulnerable to terrorist attacks in the country and that such attacks could include targets in areas frequented by foreigners like restaurants and hotels.
The Obama-Putin meeting is scheduled for June 18 in Moscow and spill over into other parts of Europe as well as Central Asia, focusing on issues such as the conflict in Syria and relations with Iran.
A copy of the updated travel warning was posted on the State Department Web site on Friday and dated June 16.
The State Department said in its advisory that U.S. citizens should avoid large crowds, including at popular tourist sites such as Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow; open markets, shopping malls and street kiosks; and public transport and other infrastructure targets for potential terrorist attacks.
