The US has warned its citizens to leave Russia right away or face the possibility of being wrongfully detained or being drafted to fight in Ukraine.
Russia might not recognize dual citizenship between the US and Russia, according to a new travel advisory from the State Department.
The warning also stated that US citizens had already "been threatened and interrogated without cause.".
Officials in Russia have played down the updated travel advice.
It is unknown how many Americans visit or reside in Russia. Several thousand people are said to have left the country after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The State Department stated in its recently updated travel advisory that those who are still in Russia risk "harassment and singling out.".
As part of a larger Russian military mobilization to support operations in Ukraine, dual citizens also risk being drafted, the report said.
The warning states that Russia "may refuse to recognize dual nationals' US citizenship, deny them access to US consular assistance, subject them to mobilization, prevent their exit from Russia, and/or conscript them.".
The State Department reports that several US citizens, including current and former government employees as well as members of the business community, have already been detained, questioned, and subjected to harassment.
The warning reads, "US consular assistance may be unreasonably delayed by Russian security services who may fail to notify the US Embassy of the detention of a US citizen.". In order to target foreign and international organizations they deem "undesirable," Russian security services are increasing the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. ".
Russian news agency TASS cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the US had issued similar warnings "many times.".
It's not the first time we've heard this, he said.
In September, when Russian authorities announced a partial mobilization of military reservists, the US issued its most recent expulsion order to its citizens.
In addition, Mr. Peskov stated that any dual citizens of the US and Russia "are primarily Russian citizens, regardless of what citizenship they have.".
In addition to Russia, the State Department has issued "do not travel" advice for 18 additional nations, including Afghanistan, Syria, Haiti, North Korea, Somalia, Ukraine, and Yemen.
