A Russian tourist who was reportedly denied entry to Israel over the rubles found in her wallet has disputed the way the story was reported, saying much of it was invented and published without her permission.
The woman's account was carried by the Telegram channel Krysha TurDoma. She said a great deal had been invented, published however the channel Shot pleased, and shared without her knowledge or consent, adding sarcastically that this was fitting, in the spirit of the Israeli immigration service.
She said the presence of Russian currency in her wallet was not itself the reason she was refused entry. According to her, the rubles simply failed to demonstrate that she had enough money to support herself while in Israel.
She added that everyone was called in for an additional interview, but only those travelers who had an invitation from a relative in the country were allowed to pass it. She said none of this was explained to her during the questioning.
Visa-free travel between Russia and Israel
Russia and Israel have a visa waiver agreement that lets Russian citizens enter Israel without a visa and stay for tourism purposes for a limited period. Israeli border officers routinely question arriving travelers about the purpose of their trip, their finances and their ties to a host in the country before deciding whether to admit them.
The ruble has become difficult to exchange in much of the world since Western sanctions were imposed on Russia's financial system following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, limiting its use and convertibility outside the country.
What Shot originally reported
The claims first surfaced when the Telegram channel Shot reported that a Russian woman had been denied entry to Israel and was to be deported because of the rubles in her wallet. Shot said a passport control officer had asked her why she was carrying the rubles at all, since she could not exchange them inside the country.
Shot is one of Russia's most widely read Telegram channels, publishing breaking news and viral stories, often before other outlets confirm them.
