The Russian Interior Ministry has put forward a plan to pause for ten days the powers granted to court-connected researchers and investigators, aiming to disrupt suspicious cash flows before they can be used to fund crime. The announcement was delivered by Andrei Khrapov, deputy chairman of the Finance Cyber Security forum, during a speech that circulated via a Telegram channel linked to the Central Bank. In framing the proposal, officials described the step as a practical adjustment to procedural rules designed to curb cash-based wrongdoing by restricting immediate court involvement in certain financial investigations. The message underscores that the measure would be limited in scope, temporary by design, and subject to oversight to prevent abuse.
The Interior Ministry says it would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a ten-day window during which the powers of researchers and investigators to participate in court actions could be suspended. The purpose is to prevent cash transactions that could enable illicit activity and to interrupt the flow of funds while investigators build a case. The plan, if enacted, would apply to specific cases where the movement of money presents clear red flags, and it would be followed by legal review once the pause ends. The approach aims to close a loophole that criminals sometimes exploit by moving funds quickly through bank accounts and cash channels.
Historically, investigators and interrogators have, in certain circumstances, accessed suspects without a formal court order. The proposed rewrite would codify a narrow, time-limited authority to pause such actions, creating a ten-day window during which financial operations can be constrained to slow or stop suspicious activity. Supporters argue that this temporary restriction is a necessary tool to disrupt networks that rely on rapid money movement, while protecting the integrity of the investigation by ensuring investigators have time to gather solid evidence. Opponents caution that any power to halt routine procedures must have strict safeguards to guard against overreach.
To implement the measure, the plan cites Article 111 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which would authorize temporary suspensions affecting electronic money transfers and the use of advance payments. In practice, authorities would be able to halt, for a short interval, certain financial operations tied to a suspect or defendant. The intention is to reduce opportunities for funds to escape or be hidden during the investigative phase, giving prosecutors and investigators a clearer view of the money trail. The Interior Ministry stresses these steps would be strictly temporary and accompanied by rigorous oversight and judicial confirmation to prevent misuse.
Proponents argue that such measures are most effective when funds on accounts are linked to criminal activity, since freezes can cut off a critical lifeline for illicit schemes. By pausing or restricting transfers, investigators can verify the origins and destinations of money, collect supporting evidence, and prevent the rapid relocation of proceeds. The plan, they say, represents a pragmatic response to the realities of modern crime, where criminals use quick payments, shell accounts, and digital transfers to obscure misappropriated funds. Critics, however, warn about potential violations of due process, reminding that safeguards and prompt review are essential to protect legitimate financial activity and innocent parties.
In parallel, the State Duma has discussed its own approach, proposing a prohibition on funds linked to the sale of real estate being moved during investigations. The idea would create a temporary freeze on proceeds from property transactions to ensure capital remains accessible for legal proceedings rather than sliding out of the system. Officials describe this as part of a broader push to tighten financial controls and close gaps that criminals use to move money quickly. Observers emphasize the need for transparent criteria, proportional application, and courts’ involvement to maintain public confidence in such measures.