Russian security service to grab private databases without court orders

Starting April 1, 2026, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) will be able to obtain copies of databases from any organization operating in the country without a court order.

The State Duma approved the measure in its third and final reading, Caliber.Az reports.

The law, introduced as an amendment to a bill on firearms permit validity, allows the FSB to request database copies or portions thereof based on directives from senior security officials. Copies must be destroyed once their intended purpose is fulfilled, and their use cannot hinder the lawful operations of companies. Officials face liability for misuse.

Previously, access to private databases required a court order within investigative operations, with limited exceptions in sectors such as telecommunications under special legal regimes.

The expansion comes amid broader FSB initiatives to access additional financial data on Russian citizens, including credit history registries, securities ownership records, and information from the Central Bank. The agency already has access to banking, tax, digital finance, and property registration data.

The FSB cited President Vladimir Putin’s October 2025 decree on anti-corruption measures as the basis for widening its access to private information.

By Vafa Guliyeva