MOSCOW: In a move to tighten the grip on dissenting voices, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation into law enabling authorities to confiscate assets from persons convicted of speaking out against the Kremlin’s Ukraine offensive.
The legislation, which was passed by Russia’s parliament, the Duma, two weeks ago, authorizes the seizure of money, property, assets, and valuables belonging to those found guilty of criticizing the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
This development comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions as Moscow continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, which began with the deployment of troops in February 2022. The Kremlin has since imposed stringent measures to suppress dissent.
Action Against Critics of Russia’s Offensive in Ukraine
Critics fear the law could be used to target Russian exiles who fled their homeland but still retain property within Russia. Despite these concerns, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed apprehensions, stating that fears of misuse were “groundless” and emphasizing that the law is not reminiscent of Soviet-era confiscations.
“Together with you, we will have the opportunity to evaluate the enforcement of the law in practice,” Peskov assured reporters during a briefing.
Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin defended the law last month, characterizing its targets as “scoundrels and traitors” who betray their homeland by criticizing the actions of Russian soldiers. Moscow has consistently labeled the hundreds of thousands of Russians who fled the country in protest against the military campaign as traitors.
