How the passport changed in Russia

Starting from early travel documents in the “Times of Troubles” and formalized during Peter the Great’s reign, passports primarily served administrative and police functions. The Soviet Union introduced a standardized passport system in 1932, initially excluding rural populations until the 1960s. Soviet passports detailed personal information, social status, and criminal records. The modern Russian passport, introduced in 1997, includes basic personal details and optional information like blood type.

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