Russia is tightening its digital laws — and VPNs are now in the crosshairs. In a landmark move, the State Duma has passed legislation classifying the use of VPN services during the commission of a crime as an aggravating circumstance(Russian law now treats using a VPN during the commission of certain crimes as an aggravating factor, raising legal risk.(VPN Use an Aggravating). While simply having a VPN is not illegal, using one in certain criminal contexts could lead to harsher penalties under the Russian Criminal Code. This shift signals a significant escalation in Moscow’s internet control strategy, with potential repercussions for privacy, digital rights, and legal risk for users.
What the New Law Says
In July 2025, the Russian State Duma approved a bill that amends the Criminal Code to make VPN usage a factor that can worsen criminal sentencing. (TAdviser) According to Deputy Anton Gorelkin, VPNs can still be used freely “for any legitimate purpose,” but are now explicitly tied to tougher consequences when misused in criminal acts.
Key changes introduced by the new law include:
Aggravating factor: Using a VPN while committing a crime may result in stricter sentencing under Article 63 of the Criminal Code.
Administrative fines for misuse and promotions: Under Article 13.53 of the Administrative Offences Code, individuals who deliberately search for “extremist” content via VPNs face fines of 3,000–5,000 rubles.
Ban on VPN advertising: Advertising VPN services is now punishable with fines ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 rubles, depending on who is advertising (private individual, government official, or company).
Importantly, the law does not criminalize VPN use per se. According to the Duma, legitimate use remains allowed — but the legal risk grows sharply if VPNs are tied to illicit activities.
Why It Matters — Privacy, Risk, and Enforcement
A Tool Turned Evidence
Traditionally, VPNs have offered a layer of privacy and anonymity. In Russia’s new legal context, that very feature can become evidence of intent. If someone is caught carrying out a crime while using a VPN, prosecutors could argue that the use of encryption demonstrates forethought or planning, turning a privacy tool into an incriminating one.
Enforcement and Monitoring
While the law sets the legal framework, practical enforcement raises questions. As The Moscow Times explains, Russian authorities may rely on automated traffic-monitoring systems (such as “Vepr” and “Oculus”) and cooperation from ISPs to detect when users access “forbidden” content, even if encrypted via VPN. Because VPN traffic is encrypted, detection may rely on metadata patterns or device searches rather than deep packet inspection.
Digital Rights Under Threat
Experts and digital rights advocates have strongly criticized the measure. As reported by TechRadar, co-founder of the advocacy group Roskomsvoboda, Sarkis Darbinyan, warned that while VPN use is still technically legal, treating it as an “aggravating feature” in criminal law paves the way for broader surveillance and criminalization. (TechRadar) Observers argue that this doesn’t just curb illicit behavior; it creates a chilling effect on ordinary users who use VPNs for privacy, remote work, or bypassing censorship.
Comparisons & Context
Administrative vs. Criminal Penalties: Unlike outright bans on VPNs, Russia’s new law does not criminalize possession. However, turning VPN usage into a factor in criminal sentencing represents a novel legal lever that authoritarian regimes rarely use.
Global Precedents: While many countries regulate or restrict VPNs, few treat them as aggravating circumstances in court. Russia’s move is relatively unusual and signals increasing sophistication in how digital tools are regulated.
Regime Motivation: Authorities frame this law as part of a broader “extremism crackdown.” According to the Kremlin, targeting VPNs helps curb the spread of extremist content without relying solely on platform bans.
Implications for VPN Users in Russia
Greater Legal Risk: Users who leverage VPNs to access politically sensitive content may find themselves under greater legal scrutiny if prosecuted for unrelated crimes.
Chilling Effect: Even law-abiding citizens might self-censor, worried that their use of a VPN could be used against them.
Privacy Trade-Off: For those relying on VPNs for secure communications or work, the new law undermines trust in their safety — particularly if VPN use can count as evidence.
VPN Providers Under Pressure: VPN companies operating in or serving Russian users may face reputational damage, regulatory uncertainty, and potential compliance dilemmas.
Conclusion
Russia’s new legislation marks a bold turn in its digital policy: the use of a VPN, once a neutral privacy tool, is now legally weaponized as an aggravating factor in criminal convictions. The law doesn’t ban VPNs — but by tying them to harsher sentences, it redefines them as suspicious rather than just protective.
For ordinary users, this shift is more than symbolic. It introduces legal risks and unpredictability surrounding a tool many rely on for safety, work, or freedom of information. For VPN providers, it raises tough questions about how to operate in or serve a country where their service can become evidence in criminal cases.
Ultimately, this development reflects a broader trend: in countries where information is tightly controlled, even digital privacy tools are not immune from regulation — and may become part of the very systems they once helped people evade.
