Russian lawmakers move forward with legislation to seize antiwar expats’ property and ‘intellectual’ income

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on Thursday that lawmakers are drafting government measures to be enforced against Russian citizens “who are not classified as foreign agents but, after leaving [the country], speak negatively about Russia.” The parliament’s plan will reportedly suspend expats’ right to earn money on assets and real estate owned in Russia, jeopardizing leasing agreements and remote sales.

Volodin also touted legislative work designed to intercept payments to officially designated “foreign agents” for “intellectual activities” such as “works of science, literature, and art,” live and recorded performances, inventions, and trademarks. The speaker said he intends to bring the bill to the State Duma’s floor next week. The draft law will stipulate that any “creative income” paid to “foreign agents” must be credited to a special ruble-denominated account, allowing officials to prevent those who “insult Russia’s citizens and soldiers” from “profiting at the expense of our country,” said Volodin.