Russia's Transport Ministry has drafted an order that would expand the data carriers must submit on passenger trips, a move experts say is aimed at speeding up arrests in criminal cases. The draft was flagged by the independent outlet Verstka.
Since 2024, Russia has operated centralized automated databases of personal data on passengers and crew. Carriers and booking services feed these systems with information on flights and trips by plane, long-distance train, intercity bus, and sea and river transport.
The database records ticket purchases and refunds, rebookings, passenger boarding and disembarkation, and departure details. It also holds passport data, email addresses, login credentials and password hashes for carrier accounts, IP addresses, and payment information. Access is granted to, among others, the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB).
The new draft order would require carriers to report not only planned but also actual trip data, including charter flights. For planes and trains, information must be uploaded within 15 minutes of a passenger's arrival at their final destination; for road, sea, and river transport, within 30 minutes.
Each trip would receive a unique identifier linking all actions of a specific passenger, from booking and ticket purchase to boarding and disembarkation. For air travel, the database would also include details on transfers and baggage.
Experts interviewed by Verstka believe the order will primarily be used for operational-search activities. In their view, the movements of criminal defendants, convicts, suspects, and witnesses will be tracked almost in real time, allowing authorities to detain people more quickly and prevent them from leaving before questioning.
The experts do not link the changes to a new wave of mobilization, noting that tools such as automatic exit bans and revocation of driver's licenses already exist to restrict the movement of those liable for military service.