Some citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are denied entry to Russia due to subscriptions to radical channel

Safety&Sequrity 22 Jul 2025, 10:13 889

After the tragic events at the Crocus City Hall concert Hall in March 2024, the Russian border authorities increased security measures at the borders. In particular, attention is being paid to the digital footprint of arrivals - the contents of mobile devices are being viewed, including subscriptions, browsing history, and instant messenger conversations.

According to court materials analyzed by the TASS news agency, citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are increasingly being denied entry to Russia if they are found to be interested in extremist and terrorist resources.

For example, a Tajik citizen was refused a subscription to YouTube channels with sermons by representatives of Islamic movements banned in the Russian Federation. Another Uzbek citizen was found to have watched videos of terrorist organizations and bloggers with radical rhetoric.

In some cases, subscriptions to pro-Ukrainian channels, as well as messages criticizing Russian law enforcement agencies, were recorded on the incoming phones. Some tried to delete their correspondence before passing through the control, but this did not save them from being refused entry.

According to data over the past year and a half, more than 20 citizens from Central Asia have tried to challenge the decisions on the entry ban, but Russian courts have recognized the actions of the border guards as justified, pointing to a threat to national security.

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