The United States has told its citizens to leave Russia immediately due to the war in Ukraine and the risk of arbitrary arrest or harassment by Russian law enforcement agencies.

“U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately,” the U.S. embassy in Moscow said in a post on its embassy website on Sunday. “Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.”

“Do not travel to Russia,” the embassy added.

US Embassy in Moscow calls on US citizens to leave russia immediately.

“Do not travel to russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. US citizens who live or travel in russia must immediately leave the country” pic.twitter.com/RVaFWNT3Ro

— Sergiy Kyslytsya (@SergiyKyslytsya) February 13, 2023
The United States has repeatedly warned its citizens to leave Russia. The last such public warning was in September after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization.

“Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, singled out U.S. citizens in Russia for detention and harassment, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and convicted them in secret trials or without presenting credible evidence,” the embassy wrote.

“Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and have opened questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity,” it explained.

Russia has opened a criminal case against a United States citizen on suspicion of espionage, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said in January.