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New Russian Law Puts All Property Owners in Occupied Ukraine at Risk of Seizure
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![Photo of Maryna Kulakova]( "Photo of Maryna Kulakova")
Russia is introducing a mechanism that allows for the mass seizure of housing in temporarily occupied territories under the pretext of declaring it “ownerless,” paving the way for a large-scale redistribution of property in favor of newly imported citizens.
This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation on Telegram on December 10.
Russia has officially approved a law granting occupation administrations the authority to classify apartments and houses in the seized territories as “unclaimed” and transfer them to new users.
“The expropriation will continue until 2030. This is the “political deadline”—the end of Putin’s fifth term. Although the practice of seizing housing under the pretext of fabricated ‘abandonment’ has long existed in the temporarily occupied territories, the Kremlin has now elevated it to the federal level. Specific officials in Moscow offices are now responsible for the process,” Center for Countering Disinformation wrote.
As a result, the threat extends not only to those forced to flee because of the war but also to people who still remain in the occupied territories.
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Experts note that the mechanism opens the door to the systematic appropriation of Ukrainian property.
The seized houses and apartments are expected to be distributed among Russian military personnel, security forces, officials, and public-sector workers brought into the region.
This policy complements other measures Russia is taking to tighten its control over the temporarily occupied territories, including preparations to legalize the forced conscription of residents into the Russian’ army, which violates international law.
Previously, Russia’s Supreme Court formally removed the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights from the country’s legal framework, according to The Moscow Times on December 9.
