Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025

The Protecting Americans from Russian Litigation Act of 2025 aims to shield American individuals and businesses from retaliatory legal actions in foreign courts. Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, many U.S. companies have faced lawsuits in Russian courts for closing operations or ending contracts to comply with U.S. sanctions. This bill proposes to prevent those foreign court rulings or arbitration awards from being recognized or enforced within the United States legal system.

If enacted, the bill would require U.S. federal and state courts to dismiss civil actions brought by private parties seeking to collect on these foreign judgments. It specifically targets cases where the underlying dispute was caused by a person's good-faith compliance with U.S. sanctions or export controls. By closing this legal loophole, the legislation seeks to ensure that American entities are not financially penalized at home for following federal law abroad.

Additionally, the bill would allow such cases to be moved from state courts to federal district courts for immediate dismissal. While the bill protects private citizens and companies, it would not limit the authority of the U.S. government to enforce its own laws or restrict the rights of victims of terrorism to seek legal remedies under existing statutes.