Russian lawmakers are considering a bill that would give the state powers to confiscate property from people who criticize President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
It is already a virtual crime to criticize the invasion, which began about two years ago. However, the new bill aims to make the penalties even harsher.
File: Vyacheslav Volodin attends a meeting at the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, in Moscow, October 18, 2023. (Via AP, Duma of the Russian Parliament)
The bill, which was debated in Russia's parliament on Monday, would allow the state to seize the assets of Russians who travel abroad to criticize the war but continue to rely on income from renting out houses and apartments in Russia. The content is as follows.
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Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, an ally of President Putin, called the new bill a “rogue law.”
“All those who seek to destroy Russia, those who betray Russia, must be punished accordingly and must repay the damage they have caused to the country in the form of property,” he said in announcing the bill over the weekend. said.
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The move, with its “enemy of the state” rhetoric and comparisons to the hunts of the 1930s under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, drew thousands of Russians who have spoken out against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. may have an impact.
Reuters contributed to this report.
