Putin signs law enabling asset seizure for convictions related to desertion, genocide, and ‘fake news’ about army
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law amending provisions on property confiscation in Russia’s Criminal Code.
The amendments allow for money, valuables, or other property obtained in the commission of crimes such as spreading “fake news” about the Russian army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) or publicly calling for actions against the security of the state (Article 280.4 of the Criminal Code) to be confiscated into state ownership. In both cases, the law specifies that assets can be seized when the crimes were committed for “personal gain or monetary reward.”
Additionally, the law stipulates that money and property intended for and used to finance activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation may be subject to confiscation. The adopted amendments extend this to those convicted under the following articles of the Criminal Code:
- Providing assistance in the execution of decisions of international organizations in which the Russian Federation does not participate, or foreign state bodies. (Article 284.3 of the Criminal Code).
- Illegal crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation (Article 322 of the Criminal Code).
- Organization of illegal migration (Article 322.1 of the Criminal Code).
- Unlawful alteration of the state border of the Russian Federation (Article 323 of the Criminal Code).
- Failure to comply with orders (Article 332 of the Criminal Code).
- Desertion (Article 338 of the Criminal Code).
- Use of prohibited means and methods of warfare (Article 356 of the Criminal Code).
- Looting (Article 356.1 of the Criminal Code).
- Genocide (Article 357 of the Criminal Code).
The law will not be applied retroactively, meaning property cannot be confiscated from individuals already convicted under these articles.
The corresponding amendments were introduced by Russian lawmakers to the State Duma on January 22. The State Duma adopted the law on January 31, and Russia’s Federation Council approved it on February 7.