Putin has stripped foreigners of right to own land in Sirius

Lead

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the list of territories where foreign nationals and entities are prohibited from owning land, adding the Sirius federal territory, according to TASS. The measure, which takes immediate effect, means foreign citizens, stateless persons, and foreign legal entities will no longer be able to purchase or own land plots in Sirius. The federal territory, located on the Black Sea coast, now becomes the 422nd area on the restricted list.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported the development across multiple articles, each offering a slightly different angle. One report focused on the expansion of the restricted territories list, highlighting that the Sirius federal territory has been added to the border areas where foreign land ownership is barred. Another piece emphasized the broader context of declining foreign land ownership in Russia, noting that the share of land owned by foreign individuals and entities has dropped significantly since 2020. A third article detailed the specific legal implications for Sirius, confirming that foreign citizens and stateless persons will be prohibited from both purchasing and owning land there.

All three reports attribute the move to the Land Code, which requires maintaining a list of territories where foreign land ownership is restricted to protect Russia’s state border. The list was last amended in 2021, with changes affecting specific districts of the Bryansk Region.

Key Claims

• Sirius federal territory added to restricted list: According to TASS, the presidential decree adds the Sirius federal territory to the list of border territories where foreign citizens, stateless persons, and foreign legal entities are prohibited from owning land plots. This makes it the 422nd such territory in Russia.

• Purpose of the restriction: TASS reports that the requirement to maintain such a list is established by the Land Code in the interest of protecting Russia's state border. The specific list of territories is determined by presidential decree.

• Decline in foreign land ownership: TASS cited Maxim Chernyadyev, head of the Land Department at an unnamed consulting firm, as saying that the share of land in Russia owned by foreign individuals and legal entities has fallen from nearly 5% in 2020 to about 1.5% in 2024. He attributed this decline to a reduction in foreign investment and changing economic conditions.

• Impact of sanctions and special rules: The article quotes Maya Shevtsova, a lawyer and advisor to the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers, who said the number of transactions involving foreign parties has declined since 2022 due to sanctions and special rules governing dealings with entities from unfriendly states. Kirill Agapov, CEO and managing partner of the Umbrella Group, echoed this view, adding that restrictions on foreign land ownership have long existed in border areas and are even stricter for agricultural land.

Key Claims

• The Sirius federal territory has been added to the list of border areas where foreign nationals are prohibited from owning land, becoming the 422nd such territory (TASS).
• Russian President Vladimir Putin expanded the list of territories where foreign citizens, stateless persons, and foreign legal entities cannot own land (TASS).
• The Land Code requires maintaining a list of such territories to protect Russia's state border (TASS).
• The share of foreign individuals and entities owning land in Russia has fallen from approximately 5% to 1.5% since 2020, according to Maxim Chernyadyev, head of the Land Projects Department at NF Group, as quoted by TASS.
• The number of transactions involving foreign parties has declined since 2022, attributed to sanctions and special rules governing deals with entities from "unfriendly states," according to lawyer and advisor to the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers, Maya Shevtsova, as reported by TASS.
• The list of restricted territories was last amended in 2021, with changes affecting specific districts of the Bryansk Region, as noted by TASS.

Additional Context

TASS also reported on the broader trend in foreign land ownership in Russia. According to Maxim Chernyadyev, head of land projects at an unnamed organization, the share of foreign individuals and legal entities owning land has dropped from 5% of the total land area in 2020 to an estimated 2% by 2026, a more than threefold decrease. Maya Shevtsova, a lawyer and advisor to the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers, attributed the decline to sanctions, special rules governing transactions with entities from unfriendly states, and an overall reduction in foreign investment activity since 2022. Kirill Agapov, CEO and managing partner of the Umbrella Group consulting firm, echoed this view, noting that foreign land ownership has long been restricted in border areas and other designated zones, with additional constraints on agricultural land.

The Sirius federal territory was established in 2020 to host the Sirius educational center and related infrastructure, and is located near Sochi. Its inclusion in the restricted list aligns with existing legislation aimed at safeguarding border regions.

Key Claims

• The Sirius federal territory has been added to the list of border areas where foreign nationals are prohibited from owning land, becoming the 422nd such territory (TASS).
• Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decree expanding the list, with the requirement to maintain such a list established by the Land Code to protect Russia's state border (TASS).
• The ban applies to foreign citizens, stateless persons, and foreign legal entities, who will no longer be able to purchase or own land plots in the Sirius federal territory (TASS).
• The list was last amended in 2021, with changes affecting specific districts of the Bryansk Region (TASS).
• Foreign individuals and legal entities' share of land ownership in Russia has dropped from 5% in 2020 to less than 1% by 2026, according to Maxim Chernyadyev, head of land projects at a real estate firm, as reported by TASS.
• The decline in foreign ownership is attributed to sanctions and special rules imposed since 2022, according to lawyer and advisor to the Russian Federal Chamber of Lawyers, Maya Shevtsova, and Kirill Agapov of Umbrella Consulting Group (as quoted by TASS).