The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia outlined a new procedure for interaction among participants in the financial markets. The measure aims to give Russian investors the ability to sell blocked foreign securities to non-residents for payments drawn from C-type accounts. This development was reported by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and is expected to shape the way frozen assets are monetized under the current regulatory framework.
Under the regulator’s timetable, actual trading activity can begin only after the government commission approves the specific terms and conditions of each transaction. Once an affirmative decision is in place, brokers, trustees, and management companies of investment funds will be obliged to notify their clients about the start of trading. This ensures market participants, financial intermediaries, and investors are aligned on the operational details and timing of the launch.
Earlier, Deputy Chairman of the Ministry of Finance Ivan Chebeskov spoke about the decree signed by President Vladimir Putin. The statements indicated that Russian investors would have access to visits to certain market venues and that assets blocked on exchanges could be exchanged under the decree. The intention behind these provisions is to provide a path for converting blocked holdings into usable financial resources while maintaining regulatory oversight.
A significant milestone occurred when, on November 8, President Putin signed a decree permitting the exchange or transfer of portions of funds belonging to foreign investors that are blocked within the Russian Federation. The scope of this measure includes up to 100 thousand rubles in certain cases. In official channels, the Ministry of Finance noted that approximately 3.5 million Russian residents hold assets that are blocked abroad, representing around 1.5 trillion rubles in value. The Kremlin has signaled that it may oppose any seizure of critical assets, emphasizing the government’s prerogative to guard strategic resources while evaluating how to implement these exchanges. Further context and developments were covered in reporting from major news outlets.
Previously, the Saint Petersburg Stock Exchange announced its intention to obtain a license that would enable the unlocking of certain assets located abroad. This move indicates a broader effort to expand the tools available for managing blocked assets and to illuminate pathways for converting these holdings into working capital within the bounds of existing law.
The evolving framework reflects ongoing efforts by Russian authorities to balance investor access with macroeconomic stability and sovereign risk considerations. Market participants are watching closely for how the government’s approvals, regulatory clarifications, and exchange capabilities will interact with international asset flows, sanctions regimes, and domestic financial policy. Industry observers note that any practical trading of blocked securities will require meticulous coordination among regulators, custodians, and trading platforms to ensure compliance, fairness, and transparency for all stakeholders. Attribution: regulatory releases and official statements from the Bank of Russia, the Ministry of Finance, and the Kremlin.