Novosibirsk residents told to stay inside and avoid windows during Putin’s visit

Authorities in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk imposed a number of restrictions on residents ahead of a visit by Vladimir Putin that began Monday night, independent outlet Govorit NeMoskva reported.

Residents of at least one building on the city’s Bolshevistskaya Street were ordered not to leave their homes, approach windows or use electronic or optical devices while Putin's motorcade passed. They were also told not to park cars on the street or nearby, according to a notice posted by the building's management company, which cited instructions from security services.

Similar restrictions were placed on students at Novosibirsk State University who remained in dormitories over the summer, with messages circulating in student chat groups instructing them not to open or approach windows, independent outlet Govorit NeMoskva reported. Movement around campus was also restricted, and fencing was erected around new buildings belonging to the university’s specialised education and research centre.

According to local outlet Precedent, Putin is expected to take part in the launch of the Siberian Ring Photon Source, a new synchrotron light source built for scientific research, during his visit.

Rental scooters were banned in parts of the city, the outlet Siberian Express noted. Novosibirsk residents also noticed that road repair work began abruptly shortly before Putin’s arrival, with footage circulating on social media showing crews repaving roads, repairing sidewalks and building facades, laying new sod, and trimming trees.

Fuel prices, however, appeared unaffected: as of Tuesday morning, gas prices in Novosibirsk remained unchanged, according to Govorit NeMoskva. This marks a departure from Putin’s recent visits to Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk, when fuel prices dropped sharply for the duration of his stay.