The State Duma authorized the seizure of the property of Russians who left the country — if they act “...

The State Duma authorized the seizure of the property of Russians who left the country if they act “against the interests of the Russian Federation.” We don’t think this rule will be applied on a mass scale (for now), but it still sounds alarming. What should you do?

You have probably already seen this troubling news. On May 26, the State Duma unanimously passed in both the second and third readings a bill on holding citizens accountable if they act “against the interests of Russia” abroad.

Now there will be more grounds to try those who left the country in absentia, and to make sure they definitely pay the fine, their property can be seized.

The deputies were in such a hurry that they uploaded the text for the third reading even before the second reading was considered — we found it on the State Duma website on May 25.

Lawyer Valeriya Vetoshkina, who works with OVD-Info, studied the text of the law and explains what it changes for people who have left the country and how to protect yourself.

🔗 Read the analysis and share it with those for whom it is relevant.

🛟 Subscribe to OVD-Info. We explain what to do if you or your loved ones come under pressure from the authorities.

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The State Duma authorized the seizure of the property of Russians who left the country for actions “against the interests of the Russian Federation.” We don’t think the rule will be applied…

On May 26, the State Duma unanimously passed in both the second and third readings a bill on holding citizens accountable for offenses committed “against the interests of Russia” abroad, and on seizing their property. It was passed in the first reading a year ago, after…