The Kremlin is preparing military protection for Russians in other countries
On 14 April, the Russian State Duma passed a bill in its first reading that allows the armed forces to be deployed abroad by presidential decree. According to DW, 413 deputies voted in favour of the bill, with no votes against or abstentions.
The bill grants the president the right to deploy the army outside Russian territory to ‘protect Russian citizens’ who have been arrested, detained or subjected to criminal or other prosecution by foreign courts or international judicial bodies in which Russia does not participate.
The document was drafted by the Russian Ministry of Defence. Its scope applies only to cases involving courts whose jurisdiction is not based on an international treaty with Russia or a UN Security Council resolution.
The explanatory note states that the current federal law ‘On Security’ already provides for the President’s duty to protect Russian citizens. The new amendments, as stated, are designed to expand upon this provision. At the same time, specific situations that could serve as grounds for applying such measures are not specified.
Lawyers interviewed by Russian media suggest that this refers to potential international tribunals established by individual states or alliances. Other experts speculate that the legislative changes may concern the protection of vessels belonging to the so-called shadow fleet.
At the Centre for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, it is believed that the adoption of this draft law is part of preparing Russian society for possible military action against NATO countries, particularly the Baltic states. The head of the Centre, Andriy Kovalenko, stated that this is an element of cognitive operations against Europe.
According to him, Russia is attempting to influence European societies, notably by instilling fear of a potential war, in order to shift political sentiment within the European Union and NATO countries.
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