Putin grants himself the right to send the army abroad to "protect" Russians

President of the Russian Federation "Vladimir Putin" has signed a law that gives him the right, on a formal legal basis, to send the Russian armed forces into the territory of other countries under the pretext of "protecting the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation". The document was published on the official legal information portal of the Russian Federation and will enter into force 10 days after its publication.

According to the Russian authorities, the new law creates a mechanism through which the Kremlin can react when Russian citizens abroad are subjected to arrest, detention, criminal prosecution, or other forms of persecution by decisions of foreign or international judicial bodies whose jurisdiction Russia does not recognize.

What the law provides for

The conclusion of the Defense and Security Committee of the Federation Council states that in such cases, it provides for the "possibility of involving the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" for the "protection" of Russian citizens by decision of the head of state. Thus, in practice, the president is given an additional legal tool to use the army outside the country's borders.

Furthermore, the document assigns to the state authorities of the Russian Federation the obligation to take "appropriate measures" to "protect" such citizens within the scope of their powers. The wording remains broadly interpretable, allowing for flexible – and potentially aggressive – use of the norm.

Context and possible consequences

Officially, the law is presented as a protective mechanism for Russians who, according to Moscow, are being unfairly persecuted abroad. In practice, however, it creates a legal framework with which the Kremlin can justify military or security actions on the territory of other countries under the banner of "protecting" its citizens.

Critics of such initiatives have for years warned that the rhetoric of "protecting compatriots" is often used as a tool for pressure and interference in the internal affairs of other states. With the adoption of this law, such an approach receives yet another formal basis in Russian domestic law.