Russia's parliament on Tuesday passed a law allowing authorities to seize the property of Russians living abroad if they are deemed to act against the country's interests, in a move critics say is aimed at silencing wealthy Kremlin critics in exile.
The law was passed in its third and final reading by Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma.
Under the new legislation, Russians living overseas could lose their homes if they publicly denounce the war in Ukraine.
Russian law already permits the confiscation of assets from some citizens living abroad, for example those classified as foreign agents who violate their obligations or work for undesirable organizations. However, the new law significantly widens the scope for such measures, as acting against Moscow's interests can be interpreted broadly.
State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said 13 new offences are now grounds for seizing the assets of Russians abroad, including insulting Russian officers and soldiers, calling for extremism and terrorism, inciting hatred or hostility, and publicly calling for actions aimed at violating Russia’s territorial integrity.
Volodin has been calling for years to punish critical Russians who have “fled” and believe themselves to be safe abroad.
“Today we have passed a federal law that serves to protect our country,” he said.
The new law comes into force on September 1, according to Sergei Markov, a political scientist close to the Kremlin.
"They will now sell everything quickly within three months," he said, referring to Russians abroad. "They are now telling those who have left that they must never return."
