FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to travel to Russia later this year, with planned stops in Moscow and St. Petersburg on October 14 and 15.
The visit is expected to be hosted by the Federal Security Service, the agency that succeeded the former KGB, although the precise agenda and any potential meetings with Russian officials have not been confirmed.
Official representatives from the White House, the FBI and the Department of Justice have declined to comment on the travel plans.
The last sitting FBI director to make a trip to Russia was Robert Mueller, who visited the country in 2013.
Patel’s career has included extensive work challenging claims of Russian interference in U.S. elections and investigating related matters.
The announcement has prompted criticism from political commentators on both the left and right, who question the timing and implications of the trip amid heightened diplomatic tensions.
Critics argue that the visit raises concerns that may require further scrutiny by Congress and could impact U.S. national security policy.
