Russia's Justice Ministry to publish a registry of emigrants convicted in absentia

This piece has two parts: a sourced news report, followed by the Sardaana News editorial position.

What happened

Russia’s Ministry of Justice will create a public registry of citizens living abroad who have been convicted in absentia by Russian courts and are subject to “temporary restrictive measures.” Deputy Justice Minister Oleg Sviridenko announced this in an interview with TASS, as reported by Kommersant and Radio Svoboda. Officials and media call these people “relocants”; Sardaana News calls them emigrants.

According to Sviridenko, the ministry’s website will host “a special registry consisting of a list of persons subject to temporary restrictive measures, with the grounds for applying them.” It will be open to everyone, modeled on the registry of so-called “foreign agents.” A Ministry of Justice order on the procedure, published by ConsultantPlus, states that “information about the persons” on the list is posted on minjust.gov.ru; the order took effect on August 28, 2026. The available sources do not list exactly which personal data will be published.

The law and the conditions

The basis is the federal law “On temporary restrictive measures against persons located outside the Russian Federation and evading punishment,” in force since August 4, 2026, and dubbed the “civil death law” on social media (Radio Svoboda). The package was passed in July (Kommersant).

It covers people convicted in absentia under any article of the Criminal Code, as well as under “political” administrative articles: violating “foreign agent” obligations, “discrediting the army,” calling for sanctions, and involvement with “undesirable” organizations. The ministry decides on proposals from the Interior Ministry, FSB, bailiffs service, tax service or Prosecutor General’s Office, when three conditions are met: a final court ruling, evasion of its execution, and residence abroad (KP.RU). Measures apply from the day after inclusion and are lifted once the sentence is served.

The restrictions

The law provides for 14 restrictions (Kommersant). Listed people may not obtain new passports for foreign travel to replace expired ones, certify powers of attorney at consulates, use their money and property in Russia, register as sole proprietors, take bank loans, use electronic public services or notaries, or make transactions; their driving licenses are revoked (Radio Svoboda).

According to Radio Svoboda, the measures primarily target Russians who left over disagreement with the war in Ukraine and the authorities’ repressive policies. See also: Stalin’s rehabilitation, repression and the scientists’ cases.

Sardaana News editorial position

The Russian authorities are taking revenge on emigrants for disagreeing with the war against Ukraine and for refusing to die for Vladimir Putin in the trenches in Ukraine. The public registry is a board of shame for people who said “no” to the war. Publishing their personal data opens the door to fraudsters, who use such information to take out loans in other people’s names. A state that bans these people from borrowing is at the same time making them easy prey for those who will borrow in their place.