Putin signed a law that strips exiled critics of the regime of access to money, property, and government services in Russia

President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the law “On Temporary Restrictive Measures in Respect of Persons Located Outside the Russian Federation and Evading Punishment.” The document was published on the official legal information portal and comes into force immediately.

The law is aimed against Russians who have left the country and who have been sentenced in absentia under criminal charges or “political” articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses (for example, for “discrediting” the army or participating in “undesirable” organizations).

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, even during the bill’s discussion, did not hide the fact that the authorities intend to use it to pressure political opponents.

“Those who have left need to think about how they will appear before the court and plead guilty,” Volodin said. — We are talking about those who are harming our country. About extremists, traitors to our homeland. Those who have spent years trying to do everything possible to destroy our state. Justifying Nazism, insulting our soldiers and officers. At the same time, they are shielded from punishment in other countries.

What restrictions does the law impose?

The document effectively introduces a regime of “civil isolation” for exiled regime critics who have been added to the Justice Ministry’s special registry. The following are subject to the ban:

• Financial assets: a complete freeze on accounts and cash in Russian banks, as well as a ban on using online banking for transfers.
• Property: a ban on selling and any transactions involving real estate and vehicles registered in Russia.
• Public services: loss of access to the “Gosuslugi” portal and the inability to use an electronic signature.
• Consular services: refusal to issue passports and carry out other significant legal actions abroad.