Russia’s parliament has approved a package of 14 restrictive measures aimed at citizens who have been convicted—either criminally or administratively—and subsequently left the country. If signed into law, the measures would take effect immediately upon publication, without a transition period, and could affect up to 10,000 Russians living abroad.
Legislative framework
- Two bills were passed on 24 July by the Federation Council after the State Duma approved them unanimously two days earlier.
- The first bill contains the 14 restrictive measures; the second amends about a dozen existing statutes (Consular Charter, notarial law, real‑estate and vehicle registration, licensing, state services, consumer credit) to give the measures cross‑agency reach.
- The laws are not yet signed by the president; under Article 107 of the Constitution they must be signed within 14 days of presidential receipt, making the earliest possible entry into force in the second week of August.
Conditions for application
A person is subject to the restrictions only if all three criteria are met:
- A criminal sentence or an administrative penalty has become final.
- A competent authority confirms the individual is evading execution of that punishment.
- The person’s departure from Russia is verified.
Criminal convictions under any article of the Criminal Code qualify. Administrative penalties apply only to a closed list that includes “foreign agent” violations, public discrediting of the armed forces, calls for sanctions, calls to violate territorial integrity, and participation in “undesirable” organizations.
Scope of the 14 measures
Financial restrictions
- Banks must refuse credit and loan agreements to listed individuals.
- Access to mobile banking and online money‑transfer services is blocked.
- All funds and property are frozen, with limited exceptions. Frozen assets are transferred to a special ruble account managed by an authorized bank under Central Bank rules.
- Close relatives without independent income may receive a discretionary “humanitarian” allowance from the frozen funds, decided by an inter‑agency commission.
- Creditors can seek compensation for damages caused by the inability of the listed person to fulfill obligations, through the courts, using the frozen assets.
Property and registration restrictions
- Registrars must reject applications for cadastral registration and registration of real‑estate rights.
- Vehicle registration is barred and driving rights are restricted.
- Registration as an individual entrepreneur or professional taxpayer is prohibited, cutting off the two simplest routes to legally declared income.
Legal‑capacity restrictions
- State and municipal services in electronic form are withheld.
- Licenses and accreditations are refused or suspended.
- Notaries must decline to perform acts on the person’s behalf.
- Powers of attorney become ineffective.
- Electronic signatures are annulled with no replacement mechanism.
Consular and citizenship measures (applicable abroad)
- Consulates will refuse issuance of new foreign‑travel passports.
- Applications for marriage registration, name changes, legalization of foreign documents, and retrieval of personal records are denied.
- Requests to renounce Russian citizenship are ignored, leaving the passport technically valid but functionally useless.
Administrative process
- The Ministry of Justice decides whether to apply or lift the measures.
- Five bodies may submit candidates for restriction: Prosecutor General’s Office, Interior Ministry, Federal Security Service, Federal Bailiff Service, and Federal Tax Service.
- Confirmation that the person is abroad is handled by the Interior Ministry.
- Restrictions begin the day after a person’s details are entered into the list.
Removal from the list
Restrictions are lifted if any of the following occurs:
- The sentence is quashed.
- The sentence is deferred or the individual is released.
- The punishment is confirmed as executed.
- The person returns to Russia.
- The individual dies.
If none of these apply, the person may file a reasoned application with the Ministry of Justice; the ministry must decide within 20 working days, and a refusal can be appealed in court. No statutory time limit for the restrictions is set, so they may continue indefinitely.
Legal analysis and implications
Legal‑aid group First Department describes the package as a de‑facto deprivation of citizenship: the state retains jurisdiction and claims over the individual while stripping most rights normally attached to citizenship. Because the measures do not formally revoke nationality, they avoid creating statelessness—a concern under international law—while effectively rendering the passport powerless.
The approach does not require cooperation from the host country, extradition treaties, or foreign courts; it operates solely through Russian domestic agencies and incurs no additional budgetary cost. This makes the model potentially exportable to other states seeking leverage over citizens beyond their borders.
Practical considerations for affected individuals
- Financial access: Expect immediate blockage of banking apps, loan refusals, and freezing of all accounts.
- Property transactions: Inability to register or sell real estate, register vehicles, or operate as a self‑employed entrepreneur.
- Legal actions: Loss of electronic signature, notarial services, and power of attorney hampers any legal or administrative filings.
- Travel documents: No renewal of foreign‑travel passports; existing passports will expire without replacement, limiting international movement.
- Recourse: File an application with the Ministry of Justice within 20 days of restriction; be prepared for a possible court appeal.
Outlook
If the president signs the bills before mid‑August, the restrictions could become operative within days of publication on the official legal information portal. A related law expanding administrative offenses for Russians abroad, signed on 10 June, will take effect on 1 September, further tightening the state’s ability to target citizens overseas.
