Dozens of Israelis detained in Russia, denied food and water – report

Dozens of Israeli travelers who arrived in Moscow were reportedly detained for hours and denied food and water while security officials told them Israelis were “not welcome” in Russia and called Iran an ally.

By World Israel News Staff

At least 40 Israeli nationals arriving in Moscow on a flight from Tel Aviv were detained for five hours at Domodedovo Airport on Sunday, according to a witness cited by Russian outlet Mediazona.

The passengers included both dual Israeli-Russian citizens and travelers holding Israeli passports only, the report said.

During the detention, those held were denied access to food, water and bathrooms, according to the witness cited in the report.

Russian security officials were described as rude and initially demanded that passengers unlock their phones.

After travelers refused, the officers instead required them to switch the devices off, the witness said.

The passengers were then taken, one by one, for what was described as “conversations.”

Some of those questioned were told that Iran is an ally of Russia and that Iran’s enemy is “our enemy, too.”

They were also told that their visit to Moscow was “not welcome” and that they had “come for nothing,” the report said.

Afterward, the Israelis were made to sign documents containing official “warnings,” informing them of the need to avoid breaking the law.

Once the papers were signed, all the detainees were released.

The witness said the officials’ behavior shifted at that stage; they were acting “very politely and carefully” while handing over the documents.

Checks of this kind are routinely carried out at Russian border crossings, including airports and land borders.

Foreign nationals and Russian citizens alike, including dual nationals, may be called in for additional questioning at random. Law enforcement officers may also demand access to phones and laptops during border screening.

According to the Tajikistan Labor Ministry’s representative office in Russia, cited by human rights project First Department in mid-April, Russia’s Federal Security Service Border Service has confirmed that officers have the right to demand access to the contents of phones, laptops and other devices when people cross the border.

That authority was strengthened after amendments to Russia’s state border law were passed in the summer of 2025.

The changes allow border guards to search the personal belongings of people entering the country.

Refusing such demands can lead to a fine or up to 15 days of administrative detention for disobeying a lawful order connected to border protection duties.

First Department lawyer Yevgeny Smirnov said the practice had existed long before the law was formally changed.

“We have repeatedly reported on the fabrication of administrative offense cases for refusing to show a phone or simply because the security officials didn’t like the person,” Smirnov said.