Russia clamps down on trading by foreigners

London/New York — Russia has set out strict rules for foreigners seeking permits to buy and sell Russian securities and real estate, according to a client memo by Citigroup, as details emerge of new state controls on investment in response to Western sanctions.

The Kremlin temporarily stopped foreigners selling Russian assets this month, saying it wanted to ensure decisions were considered and not driven by political pressure, as sanctions have intensified after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Funds with tens of billions of dollars in exposure to Russia have been awaiting details on new restrictions they will face as they seek to offload assets.

The invasion, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”, triggered an exodus of international firms and has largely cut off Russia’s economy from the rest of the world.

The Russian authorities published Decree 81 this month, which stipulates that any transaction between Russians and foreign counterparties requires permission from Russia's Government Commission for Control of Foreign Investment.

The effect is that foreign investors who had acquired Russian stocks and bonds without restrictions were left stuck with those holdings while the economy lurches from an enticing oil-rich investment destination to a financial pariah.

Russia has now laid out details of the application process for foreigners seeking to trade assets and which will restrict trading to those granted permits, the Citigroup memo says.

The process requires foreign investors wanting to buy and sell Russian assets to provide detailed information to obtain a permit to trade.

“Russian authorities have announced the order for obtaining permits to carry out operations determined by Decree 81. An authorised body empowered to take decisions on the issuance of permits has been established,” the memo reads.

An application and related documents must be submitted to the Russian finance ministry, in the Russian language, containing “information on the purpose, subject, content and essential conditions of the transaction”.

Applicants must also disclose full information on beneficiaries and beneficial owners, according to the memo.

“It's a mechanism of control,” one banking source said of the rules. “This is just a mechanism to control which entities can transact foreign currencies and it won't be companies from hostile countries that are exiting the country.”

Citigroup declined to comment beyond confirming the authenticity of the memo.

Reuters