Putin’s Novosibirsk Visit Triggers Severe Security Lockdown and House Arrests

During Vladimir Putin’s visit to Novosibirsk, residents were ordered to stay indoors as police lined the streets every 50 meters and strict campus restrictions were enforced.

Police Deployment Along the Motorcade Route

Putin began his visit to Novosibirsk on the night between Monday and Tuesday, August 10 to 11. According to “The Moscow Times,” police officers began positioning themselves every 50 meters along his motorcade route on Monday evening.

Recommendations and Restrictions for Residents

Novosibirsk residents were advised to refrain from going outside during the presidential motorcade’s passage, stay away from windows, and avoid using electronic and optical devices, as reported by the “NeMoskva” service.

Campus Curfews and Barriers at the University

Restrictions also applied to Novosibirsk State University students who remained in the dormitories and could not move freely around the campus. Barriers typically used during rallies were set up around the educational and scientific center buildings, and electric scooter rentals were restricted across a large part of the academic town.

Fire Breaks Out in Central Novosibirsk

On Tuesday morning, a fire broke out in the center of Novosibirsk, with preliminary findings indicating that a private house caught fire. Firefighters, paramedics, and police officers arrived at the scene, the female owner of the house was uninjured, and the fire spread to neighboring buildings.

Recent Regional Travels of Vladimir Putin

Before arriving in Novosibirsk, Putin visited Kazan, Irkuck, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Ulan-Ude over the preceding couple of weeks, having previously spent several months barely traveling to regions far from Moscow.

Enhanced Security Protocols and Fears of Assassination

Media recently reported that Russia has tightened security protocols for Vladimir Putin amid fears of an assassination attempt, with reports emerging that the Russian president is spending more time in underground bunkers.

Edited by Jan Latała.