Putin approved the right of the State Secrets Commission to restrict the departure of ex-officials from the Russian Federation

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a number of decrees regulating the activities of the interdepartmental commission for the protection of state secrets. One of documents establishes that the commission will be responsible for issuing permits to leave Russia for officials who had access to classified information.

Among the positions that will need to obtain permission from the commission to travel abroad are the Prime Minister of Russia, the Prosecutor General, the head of the presidential administration, the secretary of the Security Council, deputy prime ministers, federal ministers, chairmen of the Central Election Commission, the Investigative Committee and the Bank of Russia, heads of regions , President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation and his deputy, etc.

To others by decree a provision is approved for the commission to make a decision on restricting the exit of those who left the public service. It establishes that the commission, within three days from the date of termination of powers, must receive a conclusion on the degree of awareness of former officials about information constituting a state secret. Within 20 days from the date of receipt of the conclusion, the commission must hold a meeting at which a decision will be made to limit their right to travel abroad. In another signed document it is indicated that the commission will also decide on the access of high-ranking officials to state secrets.

Currently in Russia there are three forms of access to state secrets for officials and citizens: access to information of special importance, top secret information or classified information. A citizen’s right to travel abroad may be temporarily limited in cases where he had access to information of special importance or top secret information. The period of restriction of the right to leave cannot exceed five years from the date of the last acquaintance with such information.

Read more about measures to protect state secrets in the Kommersant article. “This mystery is great”.