Bill Browder is so right, why hasn't the US put a travel ban on US/UK/EU citizens from travelling to Russia ?

[OnDoutside]

They're only providing hostages for Russia.

Bill Browder: Putin's prisoner swap proves how desperate he is

[Bev54]

1. I am really curious as to the 6 Russian citizen activists that were also released - Where

do they go? I cannot imagine they would just be released in Russia to fall down stairs or out a window? I would like to hear more about that and wonder if they will go to Turkey?

[DFW]

3. There are Russian exile communities all over Europe and the USA

Any Russian wanting to settle in western Europe who is looking for a community to help with assimilation will find one.

There is an old joke in Germany about a Russian showing up and asking for political asylum.

He comes before a case worker, who starts asking the reason for his wanting to move.
First question: are you being persecuted politically?
Answer: I can't complain
Second question: are you being persecuted religiously?
Answer: I can't complain
Third question: Do you not have enough to eat?
Answer: I can't complain
Fourth question: Then why do you want to come here?
Answer: Here, I am allowed to complain.

[Bev54]

5. Thank you for that info and love the joke!

[3Hotdogs]

21. Reminds me of the old joke --- Tag line from Amer. Express commercial: "American Express. Don't leave home without it."

U.S.S.R., new credit card issued by Ruskie Express: "Russian Express. Don't leave home."

[OnDoutside]

9. Kara Murza will probably go to the UK, the others would probably go to the US i would guess

[ck4829]

2. Should be the same level as North Korea

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/KoreaDemocraticPeoplesRepublicof.html

[Ocelot II]

4. How can the US impose a travel ban preventing UK or EU citizens from traveling to Russia?

[OnDoutside]

10. They work together, and this is definitely a conversation worth having. One can only imagine that anyone

going to Russia is providing cover for the CIA/MI5 etc to get their operatives into the country.

[JI7]

6. Do any of these places ban Americans from traveling anywhere ?

They can give warnings against it and make it difficult to do but can they actually ban it ?

[markpkessinger]

7. Because the EU and UK are sovereign entities, and the U.S. has no authority to impose such a travel ban . . .

. . . The U.S. can only enforce a travel ban on its own citizens. We can also enforce a travel ban on those coming in to the U.S. from other countries. But we cannot enforce a travel ban against citizens of the UK or EU from traveling to anyplace other than the U.S.

I'm actually a little shocked that this should even be a question . . .

[OnDoutside]

11. You're taking the wrong interpretation from it. The allies work together, and usually come to similar

conclusions, and of course they are members of NATO too. Of course individually they would have to ban their citizens, but just as with sanctions, they act in unison.

Browder's point is that allowing citizens from the West to travel to Russia, is only giving Putin a chance to take hostages which he can use to get his criminals back in return.

[Voltaire2]

15. It is literally what you wrote.

why hasn't the US put a travel ban on US/UK/EU citizens

[OnDoutside]

17. Shorthand for the Allies

[Voltaire2]

18. no it isn't. Well perhaps it is inside your head

but for many people reading this thread it obviously is not.

[OnDoutside]

24. That's more their problem than mine

He says exactly that from 4:50

?t=291

[DFW]

8. It's not an easy question to answer

In the period between the fall of the Soviet Union and the invasion of the Ukraine, there was huge interaction and trade between the USA and Russia. Intermarriage, mixed families, huge business partnerships, etc.

It's not easy to upend the lives of a few million families and businesses overnight.
Talk about innocents (and obviously some were not) being caught up in the storm.

[HAB911]

12. It seems to me to be easy

"If you go, you're on your own, don't come crying from Siberia"

[OnDoutside]

13. I agree, and I suspect more will agree when the stories of the repatriated Russians come out.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

14. WTF?

How can the US put a travel ban on US/UK/EU citizens from travelling to Russia?

Is this like the US/President Biden being responsible for Gaza? He's now responsible for the travel of UK and EU citizens?

For clarity: Bill Browder does NOT say that the US is responsible for a travel ban for the world.

[OnDoutside]

16. Shorthand for the Allies.

[Sogo]

20. Still, we have no control over their movements.

[OnDoutside]

25. Of course not, but they act in unison.

and I say that as an EU citizen.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

22. What is?

Mr. Browder did not say that.

[OnDoutside]

27. Yes he did, watch him from 4:50 mark

?t=291

[Lulu KC]

19. The way I heard it, there's another layer

It's hard to fit everything into a headline.

Putin is taking our and allies' innocent hostages so he has currency to use to get his convicted criminals out of prison in our countries. We are paying with innocent people for the release of his criminals.

It isn't about having responsibility for the rest of the world. It's about working together so our innocent people are not being exploited.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

26. I responded to this:

"Bill Browder is so right, why hasn't the US put a travel ban on US/UK/EU citizens from travelling to Russia ?"

Mr. Browder did NOT question why the US hasn't put a travel ban on UK/EU citizens from traveling to Russia. I listened to the full clip, because I have immense respect for Bill Browder and consider him a hero, and (rightfully) doubted he would make a comment like that.

It's that simple.

[Lulu KC]

34. That makes one of us

There are two different conversations happening here. It's making me seasick. I don't see anyone disagreeing except you with the OP so why are you telling me this? Rhetorical question. I'm moving on to the next thing.

[3Hotdogs]

23. Back to the point, State Dept should issue a warning. If you go to Russia and get arrested,

you're on your own.

We've already given enough to get captives returned.

Or as George Bush said, "Fool me once, shame on me.

Fool me twice, ... ah.... I won't get fooled again."

[JustAnotherGen]

30. I agree with this

If not an outright ban - then a strong "You are on your own" message.

State Department Travel Alerts:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/RussianFederation.html

We have a red alert / level 4

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.

Do not travel to Russia due to the consequences of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces. U.S. citizens may face harassment or detention by Russian security officials, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, limited flights into and out of Russia, and the possibility of terrorism. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia. The Department has determined that there is a continued risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by Russian authorities. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should leave immediately.

The U.S. government has limited ability to help U.S. citizens in Russia, especially outside of Moscow. The U.S. Embassy is operating with reduced staffing, and the Russian government has restricted travel for embassy personnel. Furthermore, all U.S. consulates in Russia have suspended operations, including consular services.

There have been reports of drone attacks and explosions near the border with Ukraine as well as in Moscow, Kazan, and St. Petersburg. In an emergency, you should follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter.

Russia may refuse to recognize your U.S. citizenship if you are a dual U.S.-Russian citizen or have a claim to Russian citizenship. Russia has denied consular officers visits to detained dual U.S.-Russian citizens. The Russian government has forced citizens with dual nationality to join the Russian military and prevented them from leaving the country. In 2022, the Russian government mobilized citizens for its invasion of Ukraine. Military conscription continues.

In Russia, the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech are not always protected. U.S. citizens should avoid protests and taking photos of security staff at these events. Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens who joined protests. Moreover, there are many reports of Russians being detained for social media posts.

U.S. citizens should know that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia. Due to sanctions, sending electronic money transfers from the U.S. to Russia is nearly impossible.

Commercial flight options are minimal and are often unavailable on short notice. If you wish to depart Russia, you should make independent arrangements. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in leaving the country, and transportation options may suddenly become even more restricted.

Click here for Information for U.S. Citizens Seeking to Depart Russia.

U.S. Embassy staff generally are not allowed to fly on Russian airlines due to safety concerns. Recently, the FAA downgraded Russia's air safety rating from Category 1 to Category 2. Additionally, the FAA banned U.S. flights in some Russian areas, including the Moscow Flight Information Region (FIR), the Samara FIR (UWWW), and the Rostov-na-Donu (URRV) FIR within 160NM of the boundaries of the Dnipro (UKDV) Flight Information Regions. Check the FAA's Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices for more information

[Lulu KC]

31. I think they have

I think Joe said it today during the hostage release event. No source at this moment except my memory. If there isn't a warning now, he said he was requesting that SD issue one.

[Sneederbunk]

28. Gue$$.

[JustAnotherGen]

29. We (the US) should

At this point - we've seen enough. We know if you go there - you are putting our national security at risk and forcing us to engage with bad actors in Russia.

[WarGamer]

33. The US wouldn't KNOW.

There are no direct flights to Russia.

People are flying into Turkey, Dubai or China.

How you gonna stop people?

[OnDoutside]

35. Presumably they'll know when their relatives start

whinging to their politicians to intervene for their extremely silly relative ?

[JustAnotherGen]

37. The State Department alert

Should be updated to add: we will not negotiate with Russia. You were warned.

[former9thward]

39. We do negotiate with Russia.

We have since the 1930s. Until Space X took over, Russia was taking U.S. astronauts to the space station. We have dozens of agreements and treaties with them. We have an embassy in Moscow and they have one in DC. So I doubt your statement will not go on the State Department's website.

[WarGamer]

32. There IS NO direct flight from the US to Russia...

The only feasible routes into Russia right now are through China, UAE and Turkey.

[applegrove]

36. Makes sense.

[Demsrule86]

38. We can do the US of course and no on should go to Russia IMHO...but the EU and UK will make their own decisions.