Moscow steps up pressure on dissenters abroad

The registry will be hosted on the ministry’s website and modelled on the list of so-called ‘foreign agents’.

Russia’s Ministry of Justice is to create an open registry of citizens living abroad who are evading sentences imposed in Russia, including for ‘discrediting’ the army, violating ‘foreign agent’ legislation and involvement with ‘undesirable’ organisations. Deputy Justice Minister Oleg Sviridenko announced the move in an interview with TASS. Reportedly, the corresponding package of laws was adopted in July.

A total of 14 restrictions will apply to those included in the registry, including the freezing of bank accounts and property, a ban on registering real estate and vehicles, taking out loans, using remote banking services, and registering as a sole trader or self-employed person. Any money received by an individual may be transferred to a special rouble account. The restrictions will take effect the day after a person is added to the list.

In the view of Ivan Pavlov, founder of the human rights projects First Department and Team 29, the initiative is aimed at intimidating those who remain in Russia—people inside the country who are dissatisfied with its policies.

‘Even though Russia adopts many repressive initiatives, there aren’t that many effective scarecrows. But all these lists work very well. It’s a long-playing record: people are added to it in batches every week—it gets discussed, it agitates the public, and by the designers’ intent, it works to maintain an atmosphere of fear,’ Pavlov emphasises.

In such conditions, the human rights lawyer argues, people become afraid to openly disagree with anything. ‘Of course, this is aimed not at those who will be in this registry, but at those who fear ending up in it,’ he concludes.

The decision to include someone in the registry will be made by the Ministry of Justice at the request of the Interior Ministry, the FSB, the Federal Bailiffs Service, the Tax Service or the Prosecutor General’s Office.

According to Deputy Minister Sviridenko, the restrictions may be lifted and a person removed from the registry once they have served their sentence. ‘If the offender is ready to return, admit their mistakes and serve their deserved punishment, they have the right to have the restrictions reinstated. But if they are hiding abroad and refusing to answer for their actions, the restrictions remain,’ the official explained.

Putin had earlier ordered the creation of an interdepartmental commission to handle temporary restrictions against Russians—‘criminals’—hiding abroad. Its work is coordinated by a new body headed by Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko.