Russia passes sweeping law targeting citizens abroad

Russia's parliament has approved a new law that would sharply restrict the rights of some citizens living abroad, in a move aimed at people accused by the state of political offences or other conduct it says harms national interests. The State Duma passed the bill in its second and third readings on Wednesday, clearing it for implementation once officially published. The measure targets Russians outside the country who are facing prosecution at home on political grounds, as well as others already punished under a range of laws linked to dissent and national security.

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According to the legislation, affected citizens would face frozen bank accounts, blocked sales of property and vehicles, and the suspension of licences and accreditations. Access to banking apps would also be cut off, while state and consular services would be refused. That includes the ability to obtain an international passport and to have documents such as wills and powers of attorney certified.

The law also covers Russians who have been administratively sanctioned for offences including violations of the foreign agents law, calls for sanctions against Russia, calls to violate territorial integrity, discrediting the armed forces, or involvement with organisations designated as undesirable. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin made clear the political intent behind the measure before the vote. He described the targets as people who harm the country, including extremists and traitors who, in his words, have tried to destroy the state while hiding in other countries.

The law has been described by lawyers as amounting to the de facto revocation of citizenship rights for those affected, because it reaches beyond criminal penalties and into basic civil and administrative access. It takes effect immediately after official publication, with no transition period. The move is significant because it extends Russia's domestic coercive powers beyond its borders and adds another layer to the legal pressure facing critics, dissidents and others who have left the country.

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It also shows how the state is using financial, property and documentation controls as tools of enforcement, rather than relying only on criminal prosecution. For Russians abroad, the practical effect could be severe, especially for those who still have assets, family ties or legal affairs inside the country. The legislation fits into a broader pattern of tightening restrictions that has accelerated since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In the first week of that war, the State Duma passed laws criminalising what the state calls false information about the armed forces and making discrediting the army a criminal offence. Since then, the legal framework around dissent, foreign influence and anti-war speech has expanded further, with penalties and administrative restrictions used against a widening group of people and organisations. What remains unclear is how broadly the new law will be applied in practice and how many people could be affected once it is published.

It is also not yet clear how Russian institutions will enforce the restrictions against citizens who are outside the country and may have limited contact with domestic authorities. The next point to watch is whether the measure is followed by further legal steps or by additional guidance on implementation, especially for banking, property and passport services.

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