Russia to Seize Expatriates' Property Over Anti-War Criticism

The Russian State Duma  passed a new law in its second and third readings, allowing authorities to seize the property of Russians living abroad for “public actions against the foundations of the constitutional order and the state and public security of the Russian Federation,” The Moscow Times reported on May 26.

The amendments, which Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has championed since 2023, authorize the confiscation of property as a “preventative measure” against expatriates facing fines under various political charges. The legislation targets those convicted of “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces, participating in “undesirable organizations,” violating “foreign agent” laws, calling for sanctions, or distributing “extremist materials.”

Under the new law, which takes effect on September 1, 2026, the value of the seized property is not limited by the size of the initial fine, The Moscow Times reported. Consequently, Russian courts can confiscate real estate and assets worth millions of rubles, even if the underlying penalty amounts to only tens of thousands.

The judicial proceedings will take place without the accused present. The state will appoint a public defender, and the final court ruling will simply be mailed to the individual.

An explanatory note accompanying the bill stated that “there are striking examples showing that on the territories of foreign states, various public leaders and activists are carrying out activities directed against the interests of the Russian Federation,” emphasizing the need to target those advocating against Russia’s territorial integrity.

According to various estimates, between 300,000 and 1 million citizens fled Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Volodin has been publicly lobbying for harsh financial penalties against these emigrants for years, The Moscow Times wrote.

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“Scoundrels live comfortably thanks to our country. While abroad, they rent out real estate and continue to receive fees at the expense of Russian citizens,” Volodin stated previously, according to The Moscow Times. “At the same time, they insult our soldiers and officers. They feel their impunity, believing that justice cannot reach them.”

The crackdown on exiled dissidents coincides with the expansion of Moscow’s extraterritorial reach. Russian leader Vladimir Putin had recently signed legislation authorizing the deployment of military forces abroad under the pretext of “protecting” Russian citizens facing legal action or detention by foreign governments.

Western intelligence agencies had already warned that this legislative shift—coupled with ongoing military reorganizations along Russia’s western borders—could be weaponized to justify deliberate escalation or a limited regional confrontation with NATO.

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