Debtors will be left without communication

      The President of Russia signed a law allowing operators to suspend communication services for subscribers whose accounts are under arrest or restrictions. The innovation concerns contracts with pre-paid payment systems and aims to protect operators from losses under financial blockades. It will enter into force on September 1.

      President Vladimir Putin approved a law that amends the legal regulation of the communication sector: now, operators have the right to suspend services for subscribers if their advance payments are blocked. The document was published on the official legal information portal.

      This applies in cases where a subscriber’s account—either individual or legal entity—is under arrest or restrictions are imposed on transactions involving funds paid in advance under a communication services agreement.

      Previously, the law did not allow for service suspension even when the operator lacked technical or financial capabilities. This regulation has now been clarified: services can be suspended until the funds are unblocked or a new payment mechanism is implemented.

      The law aims to reduce risks for operators, especially in cases where subscribers’ accounts are arrested due to criminal proceedings, enforcement actions, or other court decisions.

      This is another step towards tightly linking financial transparency with access to basic infrastructure services—from communications to digital platforms. Experts expect the mechanism to be used selectively but to become an additional tool for pressure in the fight against money laundering and non-compliance with financial obligations.