Documents abroad: passport, powers of attorney, the 284-FZ register

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Since 4 August 2026 the Ministry of Justice keeps a register of people abroad convicted in absentia under any Criminal Code article or fined under 'political' administrative articles: foreign agents, 'undesirables', 'discrediting the army'.
• People on the register cannot get a passport or register a marriage at a consulate, and notaries will not act for them. Gosuslugi, powers of attorney, self-employment, loans and property or car deals are closed.
• Income in Russia goes to a monitored account. Dependent relatives can receive a monthly payment from these funds.
• Lawyers usually advise acting in advance: a second passport, powers of attorney, property deals, moving savings, apostilles on diplomas and civil-status documents.
• You leave the register if the sentence is overturned, served, or you return. The register is still in test mode — see 'Check yourself'.

current as of September 25. More: OVD-Info: new law for Russians abroad (extremist); ConsultantPlus: 284-FZ; Meduza: Putin signs the law (undesirable)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Before leaving, renew your passport and, if possible, get a second one; apostille diplomas and certificates; give a power of attorney to someone close.
• Visiting a consulate is risky if you are wanted, in the summons register or convicted in absentia: an invalid passport can be seized. People have been detained outside the Gyumri consulate and after contacting the consulate in Turkey.
• A power of attorney can be made with a local notary, with an apostille and translation, without the consulate. Russian notaries will not act for people on the 284-FZ register.
• If your passport has expired, ask local authorities about a travel document for foreigners — Poland, for example, issues one. Conditions depend on your status.
• Where to turn: The Ark (lawyers and knowledge base), Reforum Help.

Designations of organisations in this guide: Reforum Help (undesirable). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of September 25. More: Meduza: Russians losing consular services (undesirable); Meduza: how 'unfit' passports are seized (undesirable); T—Zh: power of attorney abroad; The Ark: knowledge base (foreign agent)