Putin gives himself authority to deploy the army to protect Russian citizens abroad
Vladimir Putin has signed a law giving the president authority to deploy the armed forces to protect Russian citizens abroad.
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma defense committee, tied the need for the law to the case of archaeologist Alexander Butyagin, who was detained in Poland and released in late April.
Lawyers interviewed by the Russian business daily Kommersant suggested the law could amount to a “legislative formalization” of escorting or guarding vessels from the so-called shadow fleet placed on sanctions lists — Russian naval ships are already accompanying them.
The Bell compared the Russian law to the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, designed to shield U.S. military personnel and officials from the International Criminal Court — the court that previously issued an arrest warrant for Putin.
Just before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military, the Federation Council gave Vladimir Putin the right to use Russia’s armed forces abroad.
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