Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed late on Monday that about 40 Israeli nationals were detained during passport control at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow, Russia.
The passengers were held for about five hours and questioned by Russian authorities, according to reports. The group included children as well as individuals with dual citizenship.
Security officials examined the travellers’ mobile phones and asked questions related to the Iran-Israel conflict, reports said.
During the questioning, officials told the passengers that Iran is an ally of Russia and that Iran’s enemies are considered “enemies of Russia,” adding that their visit to Moscow was “not desired,” the reports said.
Tel Aviv also issued a travel warning advising Israeli citizens against visiting Russia, the ministry said.
‘An unacceptable level’
Commenting on the situation in a separate statement, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov categorically rejected accusations, calling them "the carbon-copy statements."
"I categorically reject the carbon-copy statements circulated in the media about 'detentions' and 'interrogations' of Israelis, about denying them access to restrooms, and about allegedly politically motivated questions from Russian border guards," he stressed.
Viktorov made it clear that Russia's methods are nothing compared to what Israeli border guards do at Ben Gurion Airport, both on arrival and departure.
"It is worth noting that, in this regard, the methods employed by Russian border service officers are incomparable to what sometimes happens at Ben-Gurion Airport, both upon arrival and departure," he said.
The diplomat expressed Russia's readiness "to continue professional dialogue with the Israeli side on the issue of mutual travel."
He stated that this should include reducing the rate of entry denials to Israel for Russian citizens, which, according to him, "has remained at an unacceptable level of 2.5 percent for several years."
"This situation is inconsistent with the generally constructive nature of Russian-Israeli relations and the interests of the citizens of our countries," he said.
Last week, media reports emerged of around 40 Israeli citizens complaining about being questioned and subjected to additional checks upon arrival in Moscow due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
