A bill has been introduced to the State Duma regarding accountability for Russians who have fled abroad

A bill has been introduced to the State Duma that would allow for the prosecution of Russians who have fled abroad. The authors propose amendments to Article 458 of the Criminal Procedure Code, removing references to foreign offenders and expanding the possibility for the Prosecutor General's Office to transfer criminal case materials to other countries for the prosecution of Russian citizens who have left the country.

Vasily Piskarev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Investigating Foreign Interference, stated that the initiative is aimed at ensuring punishment for those who try to evade justice. The explanatory note to the bill mentions that foreign countries sometimes refuse extradition for political reasons but are willing to prosecute such individuals within their own jurisdictions.

This move raises concerns as the expansion of the Prosecutor General's Office's powers could be used to target Russians abroad under political pretenses. Such a bill could increase pressure on citizens who have left the country due to disagreement with current policies.