Russia's State Duma has returned to a bill imposing restrictions on citizens who remain abroad and have not served their sentences in criminal or administrative cases, the Telegram channel Mozhem Obyasnit reported. The second reading is scheduled for July 22.
The legislation targets individuals convicted under articles related to failure to fulfill 'foreign agent' obligations, calls to violate Russia's territorial integrity or to impose sanctions, 'discrediting' the armed forces, and participation in 'undesirable' organizations. The first reading of the two-bill package took place in December 2025.
Ahead of the second reading, lawmakers introduced several significant toughenings. Banks will be required to block access to online services — personal accounts on websites and in apps — for people on the list of 'evaders.' They will also be prohibited from making any remote money transfers. The initial version had a more general ban on using remote banking systems.
The amendments also detail restrictions on real estate transactions: the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr) will now return documents for registration of rights and cadastral records without review if the applicant is on the registry. Previously, such procedures were only to be suspended.
The Ministry of Justice, rather than the Prosecutor General's Office as originally planned, will maintain the registry of 'persons located outside Russia and evading punishment.' The list will be published on the ministry's website.
The bill also permits using the frozen funds of relocants for payments to their relatives in Russia who have lost income — a special commission under the president will make such decisions. Additionally, court costs and damages compensation may be recovered from blocked money or from a special account.
If passed, the law will take effect immediately after official publication — initially, the norms were to come into force on March 1, 2026. The second reading is set for July 22, with the third expected on July 23, before the current Duma's term ends.
Ivan Pavlov, founder of the First Department legal aid group, commented on the document: 'This law is directed not against people who can be named by surname, but against 140 million. So that people are simply afraid to object.'