New Restrictions on Dissidents Abroad in Russia: Consular Services and Property Rights Are Suspended

The State Duma of the Russian Federation has finally accepted, after the second and third readings, new draft laws containing comprehensive restrictions on citizens living abroad and against whom there are legal proceedings or administrative investigations within Russia. This step is considered as part of a series of legal regulations aimed at increasing pressure on opposition groups, especially those who oppose Russia's military operations in Ukraine or who have settled abroad for political reasons. The adopted laws will directly affect not only those convicted under criminal law, but also a wide range of people who have received administrative punishment.

What happened?

New regulations adopted by the Duma restrict access to basic state services for individuals residing abroad and convicted of substances deemed 'political' in Russia. In this context, the rights of these people to benefit from consular services will be suspended. This means that basic consular activities such as passport renewal, notary procedures and the issuance of other official documents become impossible. In addition, serious restrictions were imposed on these people's rights to manage, sell or transfer their assets within Russian borders.

The law specifically targets those convicted under various articles of the Russian Criminal Code and those who have committed acts classified as 'political' within the scope of administrative crimes. Although this detail is not included in the source text, it is predicted that the application will be carried out through digital state platforms and these people will be prevented from accessing the 'Gosuslugi' (Government Services) portal. This situation is interpreted as a radical step towards severing the legal ties of Russian citizens abroad with Russia.

Background

In recent years, repressive policies have gained momentum in Russia, especially against the so-called 'relokant' (those who settled abroad) who will migrate abroad as of 2022. The government was imposing various sanctions on people from abroad who it claimed were engaged in anti-Russian activities, making them 'foreign agents' or 'persona non grata'. This new law aims to take these sanctions to the next level and directly interfere with people's property rights and citizenship rights.

The basis of these legal regulations lies in the aim of preventing dissidents abroad from continuing their activities by using their economic assets in Russia. State officials define the assets of these people in Russia as a 'threat to state security' and advocate freezing or preventing the management of these assets. The source text did not include a detailed timetable as to the exact date from which these restrictions would come into force.

Why is it important?

This regulation is seen as a reflection of the 'de facto denaturalization' policies implemented by Russia against its own citizens. Discontinuation of consular services may bring about serious humanitarian problems, such as a Russian citizen abroad being left without an identity card or being unable to maintain his legal status. In particular, the loss of the opportunity for people whose passports have expired to obtain a new document without returning to Russia may push these people into a legal vacuum in the countries they live in.

From an economic perspective, restricting property rights will directly affect thousands of people who have real estate or bank accounts in Russia. The inability of these people to sell their assets or access their bank accounts will lead to a serious loss of capital and legal uncertainty. Experts state that this situation indicates a complete severance of ties between the people migrating from Russia and the state and a long-term process of 'citizenship loss'.

What do experts and parties say?

Official sources within Russia argue that these laws are a 'defense mechanism' against people accused of 'treason' or acting against the interests of the state. On the other hand, human rights defenders and opposition groups abroad state that these laws are unconstitutional and that civil rights are arbitrarily violated. There was no information in the source text about whether opposition groups would apply to international courts against this law.

What to watch next?

In the coming period, how these laws will be implemented in practice and which 'political' items will trigger these restrictions should be closely monitored. In particular, the criteria by which Russia's diplomatic missions abroad will reject passport renewal requests will be of critical importance for thousands of Russian citizens. In addition, the possible effects of restrictions on property rights on the real estate market and banking system in Russia is another important point to be monitored.