Russia's State Duma passed in its second and third readings a bill that introduces sweeping restrictions on Russians living abroad who have been convicted in absentia or have unpaid fines under political articles. According to independent media reports, the law was approved unanimously.
The new rules apply to anyone who has left Russia and has a criminal conviction under any article of the Criminal Code, as well as to those who have not paid fines under several political articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO). These include articles on "foreign agents," participation in the activities of an "undesirable organization," calls to violate Russia's territorial integrity, "discrediting" the army, and calls for sanctions.
As Mediazona reports, those affected will have their bank accounts frozen and access to mobile banking apps blocked, preventing them from transferring money. All income in Russia — salaries, pensions, and other payments from the state and private individuals — will be credited to a special ruble account, from which funds will be written off to pay fines. Close relatives of such citizens who have no income of their own may be assigned a monthly allowance from the frozen money of the defendant.
The law also prohibits convicted emigrants from conducting real estate transactions, registering vehicles, or registering as individual entrepreneurs or self-employed. Most consular services will be unavailable to them, including the issuance of foreign passports, as well as marriage registration and name changes. Notaries will not be able to certify transactions, wills, or powers of attorney for such individuals. Additionally, access to the Gosuslugi state services portal will be completely blocked.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the law applies to "extremists, traitors to our Motherland, those who have been trying for years to do everything to destroy our state." He noted that those who have left the country "cannot represent any political opposition." Lawyers from the First Department project called the law "radically" infringing on the rights of Russians abroad and effectively "depriving them of citizenship."
The bill was introduced in the State Duma in December 2025 and passed in its first reading that same month. It was significantly tightened before the second reading. Initially, the new rules were supposed to take effect on March 1, 2026, but now the law will come into force from the moment of its official publication.