Russian President Vladimir Putin signs law on seizing assets of Ukraine offensive critics

Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified a law on Wednesday that permits authorities to seize assets from individuals found guilty of opposing the Kremlin’s military actions in Ukraine.

Following Moscow’s deployment of troops to Ukraine in February 2022, criticism of its ongoing offensive has been outlawed, with severe penalties imposed on dissenters. This new legislation authorises the confiscation of money, property, and other assets belonging to those who speak out against the military campaign.

The scope of the law extends to Russian dissidents living abroad who may still own property within the country.

Despite concerns about potential abuse, the Kremlin asserted that the law is not reminiscent of Soviet-era confiscations and dismissed apprehensions about its misuse as unfounded.

“Together with you, we will have the opportunity to evaluate the enforcement of the law in practice,” AFP quoted spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters on Wednesday.

He added it would be “groundless” to express any concerns beforehand.

Putin signed the document two weeks after Russia’s parliament, the Duma, backed the bill.

Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said last month that the law targets “scoundrels and traitors, those who today spit on the backs of our soldiers, who have betrayed their homeland”.

Moscow regularly brands the hundreds of thousands of Russians who left their country in protest over the military campaign as traitors.

The law comes into force ahead of the second anniversary of the Ukraine offensive and a month before Russia’s presidential election.

With inputs from agencies