Published on February 20, 2020.
This article cites a Yomiuri Shimbun report on Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s signing of a government decree that basically bans Chinese nationals from entering Russia in response to the spread of the new coronavirus.
Even though Russia has been deepening its political and economic ties with China, the Putin administration reportedly judged that preventing infection among its own citizens should take priority over relations with China.

February 20, 2020
Russia has been deepening its political ties with China, its largest trading partner, but the Putin administration judged that preventing infection among its own citizens should take priority over relations with China.
The following is from an article in today’s Yomiuri Shimbun.
Russia Issues Decree Banning Entry of Chinese Nationals
[Moscow — Yu Tamura]
On the 18th, Russian Prime Minister Mishustin signed a decree that, in principle, bans Chinese nationals from entering Russia from the 20th, in response to the spread of the new coronavirus infection in China.
Russia has been deepening its political ties with China, its largest trading partner, but the Putin administration judged that preventing infection among its own citizens should take priority over relations with China.
According to the decree, Russia will for the time being ban the entry of Chinese nationals for purposes such as work, tourism, and study.
It also stopped accepting entry applications from the 19th.
According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Golikova, Chinese nationals will be allowed to stop at airports inside the country for the purpose of transit to third countries.
Russia shares a border of approximately 4,300 kilometers with China, and has taken measures such as closing its land border with China and making it possible to deport infected foreigners.
According to the Russian government, the only confirmed cases of infection inside the country are two Chinese nationals.
The spread of infection in China has already dealt a blow to the Russian economy.
On the 18th, the Russian news agency reported an analysis by economic experts stating that the decline in Chinese tourists is causing losses of about 100 million dollars, or about 11 billion yen, every month.