MOSCOW, Dec 12: A new government decree in Russia mandates that individuals barred from international travel must surrender their passports to authorities within five days of receiving notification. The decree, effective from Monday, applies to various categories of individuals, including conscripts, Federal Security Service (FSB) employees, convicts, and those with access to state secrets or "information of special importance," as stipulated by Russian law.

Passports returned due to travel restrictions will be securely stored by the issuing authorities, such as the interior ministry or foreign ministry. Once the travel ban is lifted, individuals can apply to have their passports returned, as outlined in the government decree.

For individuals whose travel rights were temporarily restricted due to conscription for military or alternative civilian service, the resolution specifies an additional requirement. They must submit a military ID along with proof of completing their service.

Earlier reports in March, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter, suggested that Russia's security services were seizing the passports of senior officials and executives of state-owned companies to prevent them from traveling abroad.