Travel warning for Israeli-Russians: conscription risks loom 

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has issued a critical warning to Israeli citizens holding Russian citizenship. In its statement, the Ministry stressed that dual nationals are bound by Russian law when in Russia, including the obligation for military conscription. This applies to all individuals who either possess a Russian passport or are eligible for citizenship, even if they don't hold one.

Russian law mandates that any citizen entering or leaving the country must use their Russian passport and prohibits the use of a foreign passport. Therefore, Israeli citizens who are also Russian nationals, but lack a valid Russian passport, could face significant delays renewing their travel documents, leaving them stranded in Russia for months. During this time, they would be subject to conscription and other local laws.

The Foreign Ministry urges dual citizens to verify their citizenship status before traveling to Russia. It recommends ensuring they have valid Russian passports before entering the country, as failure to do so could lead to unintended legal and military obligations.