Russia discusses seizing the property of people who relocated abroad: what you need to know
The State Duma is discussing a bill that would expand the ability to seize the property of citizens living outside the Russian Federation who have committed “offenses against the interests of the Russian Federation.” The topic is being actively covered by business media — Forbes, Kommersant (Коммерсантъ), and Pravo.ru (Право.ру) have published detailed analyses of the stages, text, and amendments for the second reading.
This is a factual overview, without assessments: what exactly has been proposed, what stage of consideration the initiative is at, and what property and offenses are affected. The phrase “against the interests of the Russian Federation” itself is discussed in a separate article — it is legally vague and requires separate analysis.
Information on this topic changes quickly. It makes sense to check the current stage of consideration through the State Duma’s official System for Supporting Legislative Activity (SOZD).
In brief
- This is a bill — not a law in force at the time the article was published.
- The initiative provides for the possibility of seizing the property of Russian citizens who are outside Russia, if a case has been opened under a number of offenses.
- Property in Russia may be subject to seizure: bank accounts, real estate, cars, and stakes in legal entities.
- The list of “offenses against the interests of the Russian Federation” is evaluative; the draft proposes references to several offenses in the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses.
- The text and stage of consideration are checked on the State Duma website (sozd.duma.gov.ru) — this is the primary source.
- Business media provide analytical coverage — Forbes, Kommersant, Pravo.ru.
What is being discussed: context and purpose of the initiative
Public discussion of tools against those who “left” became active in 2022. In 2024–2025, several initiatives with similar logic were introduced in the State Duma: to expand the applicability of interim measures (property seizure, restrictions on transactions) against citizens who left the Russian Federation and are accused of offenses recognized as “directed against the interests of the Russian Federation.”
Analytical materials on the topic were published by Pravo.ru, Kommersant, and Forbes. They describe the specific text of specific bills, so when checking for current information, it is better to look at recent publications by the same outlets.
Who initiated it
The initiatives were introduced by different groups of deputies and senators, some on behalf of individual factions. This is not unusual for topics where not one document is being prepared, but a whole series — some pass the first reading, some are postponed, and some are combined for the second reading.
What property may be subject to seizure
The drafts under discussion referred to: funds in bank accounts in Russian banks, real estate in the Russian Federation, vehicles, stakes in the charter capital of Russian legal entities, and securities deposited with Russian professional market participants. This is the standard list of assets that may be subject to interim measures in criminal and administrative proceedings — the novelty is in the grounds, not in the composition of the property.
For which offenses
The drafts proposed applying expanded seizure in cases opened under offenses that public rhetoric classifies as “offenses against the interests of the Russian Federation”: discrediting the army (Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code, Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses), spreading “military fakes” (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code), financing extremist activity (Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code), acting in the interests of an undesirable organization (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code), as well as a number of other offenses in Chapter 29 of the Criminal Code. The specific list depends on the version of the draft.
Stages of the bill — how to read SOZD
| Stage | What it means | What to track |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to the State Duma | The text has been officially submitted and assigned a number | Bill number, authors, responsible committee |
| First reading | The concept has been adopted; work on the text is ahead | The text as adopted in the first reading, conclusions of responsible committees |
| Amendments for the second reading | The final text has not yet been determined | Table of amendments recommended for adoption / rejection |
| Second reading | A specific text has been approved | The final version — close to the final text |
| Third reading | A technical stage before referral to the Federation Council | Adopted / rejected |
| Federation Council | Approval / rejection by the upper chamber | Senators’ vote |
| Presidential signature | The law will enter into force within the established period | Signing decree, effective date |
How to check right now
The current status of any bill is on the portal of the System for Supporting Legislative Activity (SOZD). A search by number or keywords returns a card with the text, stage, and meeting minutes.
Recent analytical reviews are on Pravo.ru, in Kommersant, and on Forbes. The texts of the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offenses are in ConsultantPlus (КонсультантПлюс).
If you need to check whether a specific person is listed in the open wanted register of the MVD, this can be done by full name and date of birth.
Warning signs vs false alarm
Claims that “all relocated people will soon have their apartments seized” are a simplification. Any interim measure in the Russian legal system requires, at a minimum, an initiated criminal or administrative case and a decision by an authorized body (an investigator for criminal cases, a court for most civil and administrative grounds). Without a procedural basis, mass seizure is technically impossible in the legal sense — even with the broadest possible wording of the law.
Real changes on this topic are recorded by: (a) the text of the final version, (b) the effective date, and (c) the first law-enforcement decisions. Until these three events occur, any scenarios are hypotheses.
What to do next
- Track the stage of the specific bill through SOZD — it shows the real dynamics.
- Do not confuse “being discussed” with “adopted”: these are different stages with different legal consequences.
- Keep documents confirming the grounds for owning property in the Russian Federation (contracts, EGRN extracts, vehicle title).
- If a case has been opened against you, contact a retained attorney.
- If you have received an official notice of an interim measure, request a copy of the order through your defense counsel.
- Check sources: primary documents (SOZD, pravo.gov.ru) are more reliable than any secondary retellings.
Disclaimer: this material is for informational purposes and is not legal advice. The topic changes as the bill moves through the State Duma — check the current status on SOZD and with a specialized attorney.
Conclusion
The initiative on seizing property in cases “against the interests of the Russian Federation” is a series of bills, some of which, at the time the article was published, are at different stages of consideration. The specific text and applicability can be assessed only from the final version, after adoption and publication in an official source. Until then, it makes sense to follow the process, but not to draw conclusions from retellings.
To view the open part of the MVD wanted register, use the Wanted Radar search.