Russians Accelerate Emigration Amid Fears of New Mobilisation Ahead of Election
Requests for emergency assistance and online searches for exit routes have surged as Russians anticipate possible travel bans linked to a planned military mobilisation before the State Duma elections conclude.
Requests for emergency emigration assistance from Russia have risen sharply since July, as citizens seek to leave before potential travel restrictions tied to a new military mobilisation. The increase coincides with the State Duma elections, which began on Friday and run through Sunday.
The anti-war organization Ark reports that daily requests for relocation advice have climbed from about 70 to 120, while online searches for terms such as “how to leave” and “mobilisation” have reached their highest levels since early 2023, according to independent media analysis.
Jan Slovitsky, a human-rights activist and coordinator of the Ark project, said the wave reflects concerns about a possible call-up, fuel shortages and limited internet access. > "Since mid-July a wave of panic has been rising in Russia, linked to the risk of mobilisation, fuel shortages and lack of internet access," he told Ark’s network from Yerevan, where he assists recent arrivals.
Authorities have already introduced an electronic register of summonses that automatically imposes an exit ban when a mobilisation notice is issued. In early September, passport control officers in Krasnodar detained a 24-year-old from the Rostov region and served him with such a ban, the first reported case at that crossing.
Daniil Neonov, a former municipal deputy candidate in Moscow, described his last-minute departure. > "If I had waited another day or two, they would most likely not have let me leave, because they would have blocked my exit. I received an electronic summons. But I still managed to get out."
Neighbouring visa-free countries, including Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan, are receiving the majority of arrivals, with Yerevan indicating readiness to assist newcomers.
The scale of the current movement is uncertain but appears smaller than the 2022 exodus that saw 600,000-700,000 people leave following the partial mobilisation announcement. The earlier mobilisation has not been formally cancelled, and those drafted then remain liable for service.
The Duma elections feature only parties that support Moscow’s war effort, after the Supreme Court barred the opposition Yabloko party from standing.