Putin signed laws against fugitives from punishment relocators

On August 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a package of laws on restrictions for criminals and foreign agents hiding abroad.

The measures taken provide for a ban on the registration of an individual as Sole proprietor or self-employed, the return of the application for the establishment of real estate on cadastral registration, restriction of driver's license, prohibition of registration of vehicles and the conclusion of transactions by proxy. Also, criminals and relocators will be expected to refuse to conclude a loan agreement, provide state and municipal services online. In addition, a ban is being introduced for banks to provide such persons with access to a website or a banking application for transferring funds. The person's funds and other property will be frozen, and they will also not be able to use an electronic signature. In addition, they will be denied certain consular and notarial actions.

According to the adopted basic law, measures will be applied to persons evading criminal punishment and staying outside the Russian Federation. The restrictions will also apply to persons brought to administrative responsibility for non-compliance with the instructions of the Ministry of Justice to eliminate violations of the law on foreign agents, for violating the procedure for the activities of a foreign agent, calls for violation of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, calls for sanctions against the Russian Federation, discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, participation in the activities of an undesirable organization.

Restrictive measures will be applied after the court verdict or the decision on the imposition of an administrative penalty comes into force, as well as after confirmation that the person is evading the execution of the sentence and is abroad. The decision on the application of measures will be taken by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Information about the persons in respect of whom these restrictions apply will be posted in the corresponding list on the website of the Ministry of Justice. Restrictions will take effect the day after the information is included in the registry.

The procedure for excluding a person from the list and canceling restrictive measures is also prescribed.

In order to receive payments due to him from the state or funds from other persons, the relocant included in the list will be obliged to create a special ruble account. If the account has not been opened, the bank opens a special account without the personal presence of a person. It also provides for the payment of a monthly humanitarian allowance to close relatives of the relocant included in the list if they do not have independent sources of income. The payment will be made at the expense of the person's frozen funds or from funds on his special account.