Russia Tightens Cash Outflow Limits to Neighboring Countries

Sep. 29, 2026 A Russian ruble faces off against U.S. dollars. Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Tuesday tightening restrictions on taking cash from Russia to neighboring countries. Individuals are now prohibited from taking more than 1 million rubles ($11,900) in cash to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are members of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union. Individuals had previously been allowed to move the ruble equivalent of $100,000 under an order signed by Putin in March. In addition, businesses are banned from removing any amount of cash from the country, according to the newspaper Kommersant. Individual violators of the new restrictions face total confiscation of any sums exceeding 1 million rubles, while businesses caught attempting to transfer funds will be forced to surrender the entire cash amount. Exceptions apply to travelers passing through government-designated international airports, official diplomatic missions and individuals who provide bank authorization statements. The new restrictions take effect immediately. Russia previously banned individuals from taking more than $10,000 in foreign currency out of the country in March 2022 following the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read more about: Money Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Named World’s Most Unequal Economy The richest 10% of the population controls 83% of Russia's wealth. Giuliani Associates Charged With Illegally Funneling Russian Money to Pro-Trump Group They allegedly sent $1 million from a Russian businessman to U.S. candidates to buy influence. Russian Tycoons Forsake Western Sports Teams as Asians Step Up Inside Russia, billionaires sometimes support money-losing teams to maintain good standing with the Kremlin. Russians Do Without as Government Squirrels Away $100 Billion A weaker ruble benefits Russia’s export sector but hurts consumers by pushing up the price of imported goods, including food.