Moscow placed off limits to non-Muscovite Soviets

July 11, 1980

Moscow, a city about 30 miles in diameter, was closed off Thursday to all Russians except those who can prove they live and work here. The Soviet capital will be patrolled by thousands of extra militiamen and will remain closed until a week after the Olympics Games. Soviet authorities have explained that the restrictions are necessary to avoid overcrowding during the Olympic period, but privately some have said the restrictions are intended to avoid "ideological pollution" of Soviet citizens by the nonsocialist visitors.