Overview

• Telegram channel SHOT alleged that passports issued in early September showed text overlapping fields such as sex, citizenship and issue date.
• RIA Novosti relayed SHOT’s report that travelers with such passports were turned away from Turkey, the UAE and Thailand, with some losing prepaid trips.
• Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said the ministry received no complaints in 2025 regarding technical defects in passports.
• Volk stated that the described formatting features are not grounds for refusing border crossing.
• Tour operators advise replacing a passport with visible defects as a precaution, with some reports warning of potential check‑in or hotel issues.