The Russian State Duma has passed a law allowing for the seizure of assets belonging to those who have relocated abroad for criticizing the Putin regime
The Russian State Duma has passed a law allowing for the confiscation and seizure of property belonging to Russians who have left the country and criticize the Kremlin’s policies.
The new measure is aimed at citizens who oppose the war in Ukraine and condemn the actions of the Russian army.
Now, for any dissenting remarks, expatriates risk losing all their real estate and other assets in their homeland.
The new amendments to the law expand the Russian security forces’ ability to exert pressure on dissidents.
Seizure of property will be used as a precautionary measure against those who have relocated and been fined under a number of political charges.
The list of offenses punishable by property confiscation includes:
- “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces and spreading “fake news” about the army;
- participation in the activities of so-called “undesirable organizations”;
- violation of the rules governing the activities of “foreign agents”;
- calls for the imposition of international sanctions against Russia;
- spreading materials that the Kremlin authorities deem “extremist.”
In addition, individuals accused of “abusing freedom of the media” are targeted. A separate provision stipulates punishment for “equating the roles of the USSR and Nazi Germany in World War II.”
Thus, any attempt at historical analysis or criticism of the Soviet past could serve as grounds for the confiscation of property.
The most telling provision of the new law is the complete lack of proportionality between the severity of the offense and the value of the seized property.
According to the amendments made to Article 27.20 of the Russian Federation Code of Administrative Offenses, the value of seized property will not be limited by the amount of the fine imposed.
This means that the Russian judicial system has been granted the legal right to seize expensive apartments, houses, and land plots for minimal monetary penalties.
Such a move effectively legalizes state-sanctioned racketeering and corporate raiding in favor of the current regime. On the eve of the vote, the Russian leadership openly declared its intention to completely destroy the financial foundation of opposition-minded emigrants.
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