State Duma approves fines for searching extremist materials and using VPNs
By ForGeeks
On July 17, 2025, deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the second reading a package of amendments to the CAO and the Criminal Code concerning access to extremist materials and the use of VPN services. The innovations envisage administrative fines for deliberate search of prohibited content, as well as tougher responsibility for distribution and advertising of programs for access to restricted resources.
New offenses: search for and access to extremist materials
According to the approved amendments, the Code of Administrative Offences introduces a new article 13.53, which punishes intentional search on the Internet and access to materials officially recognized as extremist. The list includes both publications included in the relevant list of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and those that fall under the definition given in paragraph 3 of Article 1 of the law “On Countering Extremist Activity”.
The violation is punishable by a fine of 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. The sanctions also apply to cases when technical means of circumventing restrictions – including VPNs – are used to gain access.
Liability for owners of VPN services and advertisers
Additional article 13.52 introduces liability for violation of the procedure for using hardware and software that allows access to blocked information resources. This applies, first of all, to owners of VPN services.
- for citizens – from 50,000 to 80,000 rubles;
- for officials – from 80,000 to 150,000 rubles;
- for legal entities – from 200,000 to 500,000 rubles;
Fines are also provided for advertising of such means. Article 14.3 of the Administrative Offenses Code is supplemented with a paragraph prohibiting the distribution of advertising information about services for accessing blocked websites. The amount of fines is fully the same as the previous sanctions in a similar category.
The use of VPNs may be recognized as an aggravating circumstance
On the same day, the State Duma passed in the second reading a bill amending Article 63 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the document, the use of a VPN in the commission of a crime will be considered an aggravating circumstance. The bill was introduced in October 2023 and approved in the first reading in December 2024.
This norm complements a package of measures strengthening the regulation of digital space and access to prohibited materials. In general, the amendments are aimed at increasing control over anonymous activity on the Internet and combating crimes committed with the use of digital tools.
Fraud protection and additional initiatives
At the same time, as part of the discussion, it was proposed to establish liability for the transfer of phone numbers and online accounts to third parties. As Roskomnadzor explained, this measure is aimed at reducing the level of phone and online fraud.
After the vote: 285 lawmakers were in favor of the amendments, 19 were against, and 20 more abstained.
The Duma approves fines for searching extremist materials and using VPN was first published on ITZine.ru.
