Russian laws visitors must know: photos, drones, drugs, posts

Most travel advice treats local law as a footnote. For Russia, the UK FCDO treats it as part of the reason for its advice against all travel. It warns of an increased risk of British nationals being detained, including if the Russian authorities suspect you of engaging in or supporting activities against Russian law, even if those activities took place outside Russia. This page collects the laws and rules the advice names, with St Petersburg as the reference city, so that anyone weighing a trip can see where the legal lines sit. It does not encourage travel against the advice.

The reason for a separate page is that many of these rules look unfamiliar from outside. A photograph of an airport, a CBD oil bought legally at home, a shared news post or a rainbow flag on a bag are each the sort of thing a visitor might not think twice about elsewhere. The advice lists each of them as a legal risk, and says the UK government's ability to help someone who is detained is extremely limited.

The text sits on the UK government's Russia safety and security page, under laws and cultural differences and under the political situation. The wording is FCDO's, and this page does not quote Russian statutes, which could not be read when it was checked.

Photography is the first trap. The advice says photography is illegal at any military, secure or official sites, including airports, and that there may not be warning signs in locations where photography is banned. You could be detained or arrested if you break the law. For a city of palaces, bridges and government buildings, the practical effect is that a harmless-looking picture of a building can be a legal problem if the building is an official site, and no sign has to tell you so.

Photographing people has a political side too. The advice says not to take photographs of or film political activities, and that there are severe restrictions on publishing and distributing information related to the Russian armed forces and military operations, including images of the aftermath of drone, military or terrorist attacks. People charged under these laws face heavy sentences, and journalists have been arrested for gathering and publishing information.

Drones are covered in the same section. Due to current military activities, it is illegal to use drones in some regions, and you should check restrictions with the local authorities. Elsewhere, you must get permission from the Russian aviation authority before using any unmanned aircraft system in Russian airspace, tell them the flight route at least 24 hours in advance and keep in regular contact with them before and during the flight. You will get a fine if you do not comply. A visitor with a drone in the luggage should also read the customs rules: the advice says certain electronic equipment, including GPS devices, needs a license before travel, and that the number of electronic items for personal use is limited.

Some places are closed to visitors altogether. Access to areas such as military and border zones is restricted, and you must get permission from local authorities before entering. Without it, the authorities may arrest, fine or deport you. The advice says to check with your tour operator or the Russian Embassy in the UK if you are unsure whether a tour or excursion will take you into a restricted area.

The drug rules are among the strictest in the advice. You can be prosecuted for possessing even small quantities of any drugs, including cannabis, and should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through an airport. The advice adds that airports in Russia have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, and that this is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

CBD is the item that catches most people. The advice says cannabidiol is illegal in Russia, even in products purchased legally elsewhere, including oils, edibles and vapes. If you are found with CBD products you may be sentenced to several years of imprisonment. A traveler who uses CBD at home should therefore treat it as a prohibited item for the whole journey, including connections. The same logic applies to medicines containing potent, toxic or psychoactive substances, which need a customs declaration regardless of value. The visa and entry page lists the other customs triggers, and anyone taking prescription medicine should check the rules with the embassy and the airline before packing.

Antiques and art also fall under strict rules. You must get an export permit from the Ministry of Culture and declare each item when you leave, and it is illegal to import or export items without a permit. A souvenir that looks old is therefore a customs question, not a shopping one.

The legal risk around speech is wider than most visitors expect. The advice says that if the Russian authorities suspect you of engaging in or supporting activities against Russian law, you may be deported, detained, investigated or prosecuted. It gives examples of activities that could count: displaying LGBT+ symbols like the rainbow flag, expressing support for Ukraine on social media, making a financial contribution to organizations linked to Ukraine, and helping Russian nationals evade conscription.

Information laws are separate. If you publish or distribute information considered fake or from non-official Russian government sources, you could receive a fine or a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The advice says this includes posting or sharing content on social media. Since a border officer can ask for data from phones and other electronic devices, as the entry requirements page describes, the old posts on a phone are also part of the picture. Under Russian law you do not need to release your device unless presented with a search warrant, but refusing can lead to long delays and pressure.

Related rules affect how a trip is reported. Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X and LinkedIn are blocked in Russia, and access to other sites can be unreliable, which affects what can be posted live anyway. The cash, cards and SIMs page covers how phones and platforms behave in practice.

The table below summarizes the main laws in one place. It reflects FCDO's wording only.

The advice is detailed about LGBT+ travelers. Homosexuality is not illegal in Russia, but there are considerable legislative restrictions that target the LGBT+ community. In November 2023 the Russian Supreme Court banned the so-called international LGBT movement, designating it as extremist, and the decision came into force in January 2024. The court provided no definition. Displaying extremist symbols and being a member of or donating money to extremist organizations are criminal offenses, and there have been reports of persecution for displaying the rainbow flag.

Separate legislation bans promoting non-traditional sexual relations. If charged, foreign citizens could face fines, up to 15 days in jail and deportation. The advice adds that there are no laws to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination, that harassment, threats and acts of violence have increased, and that same-sex couples showing affection in public may receive negative attention. It describes the North Caucasus republics as particularly intolerant. For LGBT+ travelers, these are central to the decision, not a footnote.

Other groups face restrictions. The advice says some religious activities are restricted, including preaching and distributing religious materials, that Jehovah's Witnesses are considered an extremist organization and can face detention, particularly at places of worship, and that some other minority religious groups face discrimination. It says that most visitors experience no problems with racial discrimination, but that people of African, Asian or Caribbean descent may receive unwanted attention in public places, especially late at night.

Protests carry legal risk even for onlookers. The advice says anti-war protests have led to detentions, authorized rallies are allowed in cities and towns, and a single person can constitute a protest under Russian law and be subject to repercussions. Unauthorized demonstrations can become violent, with a strong response from security forces. Avoid demonstrations or large gatherings that may be considered political.

Two ID rules apply every day. Always carry your passport, because police carry out random checks and copies are not accepted, and you could be fined or detained for up to 48 hours without it. And you must register if you stay more than 7 working days, which hotels do for you. The street safety page covers the police and fake police rules that sit alongside these.

Dual nationals face the strictest regime. The advice says Russian authorities treat British-Russian dual nationals as Russian citizens, which limits the consular help the UK can give, and that they are at risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Men aged 18 to 30 with Russian citizenship may be called up for compulsory service, and anyone with Russian citizenship may be drafted under the partial mobilization. For anyone in that position, the decision guide for Moscow is the place to start.

Treat it as a checklist of questions that need an honest answer before any decision. Does anything on the phone, in the luggage or in your social media history fall under the categories above? Does anyone in the party face the LGBT+, religious or dual-nationality risks the advice describes? Are cameras, drones and GPS devices necessary, and if so, do you hold the permissions? And has an insurer confirmed in writing that a trip is covered, given that FCDO says cover could be invalidated? The travel insurance guide explains how those exclusions work. If any answer is uncertain, the advice and the law point the same way.