Support The Moscow Times!

Putin Creates Commission to Counter Financing of Terrorism

Russian President Vladimir Putin Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Wednesday outlining the launch of an inter-departmental commission that would counter the financing of terrorism, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

The commission is supposed to rule on “freezing funds or other property” of organizations and individuals suspected of being involved in terrorism, the report said. It will also be responsible for coordinating work of other institutions engaged in fighting terrorism.

The presidential decree orders federal governmental bodies and the Investigative Committee to inform the commission of any organizations or individuals that might be involved in terrorist activities. The document also encourages prosecutors' offices, the Central Bank, regional and municipal governments to do the same.

According to the decree, a decision to freeze assets will be considered final only if all members of the commission vote for it. All rulings will be published on the website of Rosfinmonitoring, the state financial watchdog.

An individual whose assets are frozen will be entitled to a monthly allowance, the size of which will be determined by the commission and can be contested in court, Kommersant reported. Those who disagree with the commission's ruling can also contest it in court, the report said.

The decree came out on the heels of officials declaring the downing of a Russian civilian airliner over Egypt's Sinai peninsula on Oct. 31 a terrorist act and a series of deadly attacks in Paris on Nov. 13.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more