The Russian government has submitted a draft law to the State Duma authorizing the use of armed forces to protect Russian citizens who are detained abroad.
The document concerns Russian citizens detained by decisions of foreign courts and judicial bodies with criminal jurisdiction from countries other than Russia, and this jurisdiction is not based on an international treaty to which Russia is a party or a resolution issued by the UN Security Council.
The document, published in the State Duma's electronic database, states: "The draft federal law... was formulated with the aim of protecting the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation in the event of their arrest (detention) on criminal charges or other prosecutions in execution of decisions of foreign courts authorized to exercise powers in the field of criminal proceedings by other foreign states without the participation of the Russian Federation."
The explanatory memorandum to the draft law states that the President of the Russian Federation shall take measures, in accordance with the law, to protect Russia and its citizens in the event that foreign and international bodies make decisions or carry out actions that conflict with the interests and principles of public law and order in the Russian Federation.
In the context of developing the specific standard, the bill introduces amendments that stipulate, among other things, the possibility of using formations of the armed forces outside the territorial borders, by decision of the President of the Russian Federation, to protect citizens.
