The Russian Justice Ministry has drafted legislation that would prohibit prisoners convicted of extremism offenses, along with foreign nationals, from being relocated to penal colonies near their immediate family members. RBC news agency reported this development, citing the ministry's proposed bill.
Currently, most inmates in Russia can request transfer to correctional facilities in regions where close relatives reside, except those convicted under certain serious charges like terrorism and treason.
The Justice Ministry's proposal seeks to expand these restrictions to include "followers of extremist ideology," foreign citizens, and stateless individuals.
Vladimir Gruzdev, chairman of the Russian Bar Association's board, informed RBC that the changes would also apply to anyone listed in Rosfinmonitoring's terrorist and extremist registry, which currently contains over 17,400 individuals.
According to the ministry, the measure aims to counter the propagation of "extremist and terrorist ideology within correctional facilities."
The draft law has reportedly gained approval from the government's legislative commission, along with support from the Federal Penitentiary Service, FSB, Foreign Ministry, and other agencies. Human Rights Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova also expressed conceptual backing for the bill in a written statement.