RUSSIA. A NEW ROUND OF REPRESSION
02.09.2025
From September 1, a package of new laws comes into force in Russia, which experts have already dubbed the “September nightmare.” These measures intensify digital and financial control over citizens and restrict their social and cultural rights.
Digital surveillance.
Any online activity now carries the risk of punishment. Searching for “extremist materials” is completely banned, with fines of up to 5,000 rubles. Using someone else’s SIM card or social media account can result in fines of up to 200,000 rubles. Every SIM card purchase will be recorded on video. All new smartphones are required to have the “Max” messenger and the “RuStore” app store pre-installed.
VPN ban.
From this day forward, advertising and distributing VPNs is considered a crime, with fines reaching 500,000 rubles. This effectively cuts off access to independent media and eliminates the main tool for bypassing censorship.
Financial pressure.
Banks are granted the right to freeze citizens’ accounts without a court order. Closing a bank account automatically cuts off mobile service, since SIM cards in Russia are linked to banking services. Even “suspicious” cash operations may be classified as crimes. The financial system thus becomes a tool of coercion.
Economy and automobiles.
Car owners face a threefold increase in customs duties. This will drive up vehicle prices and deliver a heavy blow to the population at a time of declining incomes.
Education and culture.
College graduates will no longer be able to enter universities without passing the Unified State Exam (EGE) if their specialization does not match. This closes social mobility pathways for thousands of young people. Films deemed to contain “non-traditional values” are banned, and any contact with “foreign agents” is criminalized. Even purchasing everyday items such as lighters now requires a passport.
Conclusion.
Russia is entering a new stage of total control, where suspicion replaces trust and repression replaces development. These measures will damage the economy, limit opportunities for young people, and further worsen the situation of migrants, especially Tajiks, who are already deprived of rights in Russia.