The president will have the right to use troops to protect Russians arrested abroad

The Russian government has submitted to the State Duma a bill authorizing the president to use armed forces abroad to protect Russians arrested or prosecuted by decisions of foreign courts or international bodies whose competence is not based on an agreement with the Russian Federation or a resolution. THE UN Security Council.

The document provides for amendments to the laws "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation" and "On Defense".

Article 6 of the Law on Citizenship is supplemented by a new part: public authorities are obliged, by decision of the President, to take measures to protect Russian citizens arrested or prosecuted pursuant to decisions of foreign courts with criminal powers by other states without the participation of Russia, or international judicial bodies whose competence is not based on an international treaty of the Russian Federation or a resolution of the UN Security Council.

The amendment to the law "On Defense" expands the list of grounds for involving the army in tasks with the use of weapons: now they include the protection of Russian citizens arrested or prosecuted by decisions of foreign or international judicial bodies unrecognized by Russia. The decision is made by the President in accordance with federal laws.

The explanatory note says that Article 8 of the law "On Security" already obliges the president to protect Russia and its citizens from decisions of foreign bodies that contradict the interests of the country. The bill, according to the Government's plan, develops this norm by adding to it a specific tool — the extraterritorial use of the armed forces.