Kathrine Frich
They also banned the use of any electronic or optical equipment near the president’s convoy.
When a world leader comes to town, locals usually expect traffic jams and heavy security.
But for one major city, a recent VIP arrival brought a much stricter set of rules.
Residents found themselves ordered out of sight and told to put their cameras away.
Clear the streets
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare stop in Siberia this week. He visited Novosibirsk for the first time in eight years, prompting local authorities to lock down the sprawling city in highly unusual ways.
According to the Kyiv Post cited by Digi24, officials ordered residents of Russia’s third-largest city to stay completely hidden. Locals living along the main motorcade route were forced away from their own windows to let the convoy pass unseen.
One local property management company issued a strict notice to apartment dwellers on Bolshevistskaya Street. The memo told them to “refrain” from leaving their homes, while also demanding that all cars be moved away from the road. Residents were warned to take the instructions seriously “to avoid unpleasant situations.”
Banned from view
Security forces took things a step further. They banned the use of any electronic or optical equipment near the convoy. The Moscow Times, citing regional outlet NeMoskva, reported that these strict orders came directly from state security agencies.
The clampdown quickly extended to the local student population. Undergraduates living at Novosibirsk State University received identical warnings to stay inside their dormitories until the convoy had passed.
Movement across the university campus was heavily restricted. Security crews set up crowd control barriers near the new educational buildings, and operators blocked electric scooter rentals across the university district.
Fresh paint and police
Putin arrived in the city late on August 10. By Monday evening, police officers stood shoulder to shoulder every 50 meters along his expected route.
Local media noted that city workers scrambled to prepare for the high-profile arrival. Crews urgently repaired sidewalks, patched roads, painted building exteriors, and even laid down fresh grass.
The Russian leader spent his time touring the SKIF research facility in the nearby science town of Koltsovo. This massive complex focuses heavily on advanced chemistry, biology, and physics research.
A sudden travel schedule
This Siberian stop marks a shift in routine for the president. He spent several months largely confined to Moscow and St. Petersburg before starting a recent wave of domestic travel.
His schedule is suddenly packed. Over the past few weeks, he has touched down in several remote cities, including Kazan, Omsk, and Ulan-Ude.
Sources: Digi24, Kyiv Post, The Moscow Times, NeMoskva, local Russian media
