Russia tightens controls on citizens' travel

The Russian Ministry of Transport plans to increase the amount of information provided to the government about citizens' trips. This was reported by the publication "Vortska", which got acquainted with the new draft order of the ministry.

Starting from 2024, automated central databases containing personal data of passengers and crew members will be maintained in Russia. Carriers and ticket booking services will transfer information about flights and trips by plane, train, intercity bus, as well as sea and river transport to these databases.

The database will include information about ticket purchases, returns, reissues, refunds, boarding, disembarking and departure of passengers, as well as other operations. In addition, personal data of passengers will be stored there - passport data, email address, login and password of the carrier's account, IP address from which the ticket was issued, and payment information. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service also have the right to use these databases.

The new draft order obliges carriers to provide information not only on planned but also on actual trips. Information on airplanes and trains must be submitted to the database within 15 minutes after the passenger arrives at the final destination, and on automobile, sea and river transport within 30 minutes. Each trip is assigned a unique identifier that links all the actions of a particular passenger, from booking and purchasing a ticket to boarding and disembarking.

On flights, information on transfers from one flight to another and baggage is also transmitted to the database. The new requirements apply equally to both regular and charter flights.

According to experts who participated in the Vyortska survey, this order is primarily used for operational-search activities. The movement of extras in criminal cases, convicts, suspects and witnesses is monitored. However, they believe that this tool for mobilization will not be needed, as measures such as automatic bans on leaving the country and revocation of driver's licenses are already in place to restrict the movement of those subject to military service.