President Vladimir Putin has signed a law imposing sweeping financial, property and consular restrictions on Russians living abroad who have been convicted in absentia, including under legislation used to prosecute Kremlin critics.
The measure was one of several laws signed by Putin on Tuesday that expand state oversight of Russian citizens and the economy. Separate legislation establishes a tightly controlled cryptocurrency market and gives government agencies access to confidential data across the food supply chain.
The new restrictions will apply to Russians convicted of any criminal offense as well as selected administrative offenses, including violations of Russia’s “foreign agent” rules, participation in “undesirable organizations,” “discrediting” the military, calling for sanctions or challenging Russia’s territorial integrity.
Many of those provisions have been widely used against anti-war activists, independent journalists and political opponents who left Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Justice Ministry will maintain an official register of people deemed to be evading punishment while abroad, while the prosecutor general and their deputy will have the authority to add individuals to the list.
