Russia Warns Citizens to Avoid Countries That Extradite to the U.S.

Overview

• Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a travel advisory telling citizens to steer clear of states that can hand them over to the United States, citing a risk of detention and transfer to U.S. custody.
• The notice focuses on people who think they could face U.S. charges or who appear on American sanctions lists.
• Officials named the United Kingdom, Switzerland, most European Union members, Canada, Australia, Israel, much of Latin America, Liberia, Morocco and several Asian countries as most likely to extradite.
• The ministry alleged that U.S. intelligence lures Russians with fake business or travel offers, a claim reported without evidence in the advisory.
• Moscow said more than 100 Russians have been sent to the United States since arms dealer Viktor Bout’s 2008 arrest, pointing to his 2022 swap for Brittney Griner as a precedent.