Russia passes ‘civil death’ legislation to freeze exiled critics’ money, block their passports, and cut off consular aid

On July 22, State Duma deputies passed two laws intended to ensure the “inevitability of punishment” for those evading Russian justice abroad. Human rights advocates from the organization First Department directly call the new rules a path toward the de facto stripping of citizenship from opponents of the ruling regime, whom the authorities are prosecuting under political articles of Russia’s Criminal Code.