Russia's Duma adopts 'Traitor' law restricting rights of citizens abroad

The State Duma of Russia approved a bill—dubbed the “Traitor law”—that imposes a suite of restrictions on Russian citizens living outside the country who are deemed to be evading criminal or administrative penalties. The legislation authorises the freezing of bank accounts, blocks access to banking apps, redirects income to a state‑run ruble account, and prohibits the sale of real estate and vehicles. It also suspends licences, permits, notarial services, and denies the issuance of passports and other consular assistance.

The law creates a special registry maintained by the Justice Ministry, fed by information from the Interior Ministry, the FSB, the Prosecutor General’s Office and other agencies. It takes effect immediately upon official publication, with no transition period. Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin described the target group as “extremists, traitors to the homeland” who hide abroad to avoid punishment.

Human‑rights observers warn the cumulative effect amounts to a de‑facto loss of citizenship, further tightening a repression campaign that accelerated after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.