Russian State Duma approves asset seizure law targeting citizens who left Russia

Russia's State Duma has passed a law allowing prosecution and asset seizure of Russian citizens who have left the country for offenses deemed to be 'against the interests of the Russian Federation'. The bill passed its second and third readings in the lower house of parliament.

Russia's State Duma has approved legislation enabling authorities to pursue and seize the assets of Russian citizens who have emigrated abroad, if those individuals are found to have committed offenses considered to be directed «against the interests of the Russian Federation». The bill passed both its second and third readings in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament.

The law represents a significant expansion of Moscow's reach over citizens who have left the country, a phenomenon that accelerated dramatically following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Hundreds of thousands of Russians — including IT professionals, journalists, activists, and military-age men avoiding conscription — have relocated abroad since the start of the war.

Critics and human rights observers are likely to view the legislation as a tool for politically motivated persecution of dissidents, opposition figures, and ordinary citizens who have publicly criticized the Kremlin from abroad. The deliberately broad formulation of offenses «against the interests of the Russian Federation» could encompass a wide range of speech and civic activity.

The move comes as part of a broader tightening of Russian legislation targeting those perceived as disloyal to the state. Previous laws have already criminalized «discrediting» the armed forces and spreading «false information» about military operations, carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison. This new measure adds property confiscation as an additional instrument of pressure against those living outside Russian jurisdiction.