- Russian parliament passed a law to punish online searches according to so-called ‘extremist’ content
- The law also adds new sanctions for VPN users, making the use of accessing extremist content to a crime as an aggravating factor
- WhatsApp is the latest app to be banned in Russia
People in Russia are ready to meet new fines to “search for or access deliberate extremist materials”, including through VPN services.
Russian parliament, the state of Duma, passed the new law on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, with 306 votes in favor, 67 against and 22 omissions – as reported by the Russian independent news output Meduza.
The law has so far attracted strong criticism, even among pro-governments, according to Pakinomist. Digital rights experts also raise the alarm.
Russia VPN – What changes with the new law?
The Kremlin’s fight against VPN use is certainly not new. As more people in Russia have approached the best VPN apps to bypass still-strolls Internet censorship, authorities have done their best to prevent this.
From the implementation of sophisticated VPN blocking techniques in March 2024, the government introduced a law for the first time to criminalize the spread of information on ways of bypassing Internet restrictions.
It is probably the basis that led to the Kremlin’s notorious censorship regulator Roskomnadzor that emits the requirement for the removal of the Big Tech giant. Apple was the most complaints about the party and killed at least 60 VPN apps, including the popular Russian service Amnezia VPN, from July 2024 and in the future alone.
Now, the new law is introducing additional penalties for violation of rules for VPN use. This means that advertising VPN services can now cost individuals between 50,000-80,000 rubles ($ 640- $ 1,020). This rises to 80,000–150,000 rubles ($ 1,020 – $ 1,900) for officials and 200,000–500,000 rubles ($ 2,550- $ 6,380) for legal units.
As Meduza reported, lawmakers also adopted a provision that makes use of a VPN to access extremist content “to a crime as an aggravating factor.”
How Russia’s new law affects VPN users?
According to the Kremlin Kremlin, online search for so-called extremist content is an alternative to completely blocking foreign platforms.
“In our understanding, this [the adoption of the bill] Allows us to find a balance: on one side to prevent further dissemination of extremist materials, [and] On the other hand, to refrain from blocking larger Western platforms for now, “said Minister of Digital Development, Communication and Mass Media Maks Shadayev – Interfax reported.
Of crucial importance, Shadayev also assures that “ordinary users will not be affected”, despite not explaining how.
However, this insurance is not convincing digital rights experts who are now fearing stronger follows against dissidents.
When he spoke with the Moscow Times, co-founder of Russian digital advocacy group Roskomsvoboda, Sarkis Darbinyan said: “If you have a VPN on your phone, it could only be enough to trigger a deeper check. Finally we could see criminal fees for VPN use after only one or two warnings-
It is also worth mentioning that the very popular WhatsApp app is now likely to be limited in Russia.
