Russian Government Declares Hunt on Emigrants

Before its dissolution, the State Duma passed a package of laws that classify cadastral data and impose sanctions on Russians who have left the country: asset seizure, blocking of government services, and denial of consular assistance. Measures against foreign agents and migrants have also been tightened. Speaker Volodin ended the session by chanting 'Russia! Putin! Victory!', but deputies did not join in.

Before its dissolution, the eighth convocation of the Russian State Duma passed a package of controversial laws. Key measures include: classifying the public cadastral map under the pretext of protection from threats—data on buildings, land plots, and energy and transport infrastructure will be hidden; for the Ministry of Defense, Rosatom, Roscosmos, and Rostec, a simplified procedure for removal within 7 days. The second block consists of sanctions against Russians who have left: seizure and sale of property to cover debts, freezing of accounts, blocking of Gosuslugi, prohibition of transactions and powers of attorney, and denial of consular assistance. For foreign agents, the transfer of banking data to the Ministry of Justice is accelerated, re-examination of status within a year after refusal is prohibited, and social advertising on their resources is banned. For migrants, grounds for deportation are expanded: participation in unauthorized actions, discrediting the army, calls for sanctions, and petty hooliganism. Foreigners with any criminal record are barred from citizenship and permanent residency. In the communications sector, labeling of international calls and a 'red button' on Gosuslugi for blocking financial transactions have been introduced. Speaker Volodin ended the session by chanting 'Russia! Putin! Victory!' five times; deputies applauded but did not join the chant. Putin called the five-year work of the parliament 'one of the decisive stages in the history of the fatherland.'