Residents of Russia’s third-largest city were told to stay indoors, keep away from windows, and avoid using electronic or optical devices while President Vladimir Putin’s motorcade passed through Novosibirsk.
The restrictions were introduced during Putin’s visit to the Siberian city on Tuesday, The Moscow Times reported, citing the regional news outlet NeMoskva.
A notice reportedly distributed by a property management company asked residents of buildings along Bolshevistskaya Street to “refrain” from going outside while the presidential convoy was passing.
They were also urged not to approach their windows, use electronic or optical equipment, or leave vehicles near the street.
The notice said the measures had been introduced at the direction of security agencies and warned residents to treat the recommendations seriously “to avoid unpleasant situations.”
Students who remained in dormitories at Novosibirsk State University received similar instructions. Movement around the university campus was restricted, while barriers commonly used to control demonstrations appeared near new buildings belonging to the university’s research and education center.
Electric scooter rentals were also restricted across much of Akademgorodok, Novosibirsk’s academic district, and on several central streets. Local media reported that scooter operators had designated large areas as no-riding or no-parking zones.
Putin arrived in Novosibirsk overnight into Aug. 11. Police officers began taking positions along his expected route Monday evening, standing about 50 meters (165 feet) apart.
Large numbers of traffic police officers were also reported along Bolshevistskaya Street, a major road near central Novosibirsk. Ahead of the visit, municipal workers hurried to resurface roads, repair sidewalks and building facades, and lay fresh grass, according to local reports.
Putin was expected to visit the Siberian Circular Photon Source, known as SKIF, in the nearby science town of Koltsovo, as well as the university campus in Akademgorodok.
SKIF is a large scientific complex built around a synchrotron radiation source and designed to support research in physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science.
Tuesday’s trip marked Putin’s first visit to Novosibirsk since 2018.
The visit came during a series of regional trips by the Russian president following several months in which he rarely traveled outside Moscow and St. Petersburg. In recent weeks, he has also visited Kazan, Irkutsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Ulan-Ude.