Vyachlesav Volodin says expat war critics should lose homes

• Parliament speaker Vyachlesav Volodin singles out citizens who insult Russia.
• Hundreds of thousands of Russians have evacuated in response to conflict in Ukraine.
• Pro-Putin figures’ displeasure at public criticisms of conflict expressed.

Property should be seized from Russians who have travelled abroad and criticized their nation or its armed forces, according to parliament speaker Vyachlesav Volodin.

A long-time ally of President Vladimir Putin, he singled out citizens who found it “possible to insult Russia, its residents, soldiers and officers, to openly support the villains”.

In response to the conflict in Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of Russians have evacuated.

To escape being called up, many people departed.

Mr. Volodin’s remarks come as pro-Putin figures’ displeasure at public criticisms of the conflict expressed by exiled Russians is growing.

Days into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last February, a law was passed that criminalized discrediting Russia’s armed forces or spreading “false information” about the war – which Moscow calls a “special military operation”.

A number of dissidents have been jailed in Russia for speaking out against the war, including prominent opposition figure Ilya Yashin last month.

One of President Putin’s biggest cheerleaders, ex-president Dmitry Medvedev, who sits on the Russian security council, said in recent days that there were “special rules” in wartime for traitors who “wish their fatherland to perish”.

His remarks followed Russian actor Artur Smolyaninov’s declaration to exiled publication Novaya Gazeta that if he had to fight in the conflict, he would support Ukraine rather than Russia.

The Russian investigative committee started a criminal probe into Smolyaninov’s remarks, and Russian MPs demanded that he be banned from appearing in state-funded movies.

When singer Valery Meladze appeared to wish Ukrainians glory during a New Year concert in Dubai, MPs were outraged and several demanded that his citizenship be revoked.

His remarks followed Russian actor Artur Smolyaninov’s declaration to exiled publication Novaya Gazeta that if he had to fight in the conflict, he would support Ukraine rather than Russia.

The Russian investigative committee started a criminal probe into Smolyaninov’s remarks, and Russian MPs demanded that he be banned from appearing in state-funded movies.

When singer Valery Meladze appeared to wish Ukrainians glory during a New Year concert in Dubai, MPs were outraged and several demanded that his citizenship be revoked.

Such “scoundrels” were living comfortably thanks to their country, he said, leasing their property and receiving rent and royalties at the expense of fellow citizens, while at the same time being able to “publicly drag Russia through the mud”.

Senior Russian senator Andrei Klishas, who chairs the committee on constitutional legislation in the upper house of parliament, supported his motion to seize property.

Mr. Klishas stated last month that it should be made uncomfortable for Russians who had relocated overseas and worked remotely for domestic enterprises.

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