The State Duma has passed a law in its second and third readings allowing the army to be used to protect Russian citizens arrested abroad under decisions issued by foreign courts.
The measure applies to cases in which such detentions are not backed by Russian law, international agreements, or resolutions of the UN Security Council.
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin argued that Western «justice» has long turned into a tool of pressure against those who refuse to accept the policies imposed by European officials. He said that under these circumstances, Russia must do everything necessary to ensure the protection of its citizens abroad.
Earlier, Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defense Committee, described the law as a deterrent. He pointed to cases in which Russian nationals, in his view, were detained without sufficient grounds and accused on fabricated pretexts.
As an example, Kartapolov cited Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, who was detained in Poland. He also noted that the practical use of the new provision could take different forms, given the range of capabilities and resources available to Russian troops.