Putin Approves Law Allowing Military to Defend Detained Russian Citizens Abroad

Russian President Vladimir Putin has enacted a law authorizing the deployment of the Russian military to defend Russian nationals who are detained or pursued based on foreign court decisions that Moscow does not recognize.

The legislation is set to take effect ten days after its official publication, according to a related document released Monday on the Kremlin’s official legal documents website.

Under the new law, the military may be utilized, upon a decision by the Russian president, to carry out tasks related to protecting Russian citizens subjected to arrest, detention, or prosecution based on rulings issued by foreign courts without Russia’s participation or by entities whose jurisdiction is not founded on an international treaty signed by Russia or a United Nations Security Council resolution.

The law also applies to decisions from international judicial bodies whose authority does not derive from a treaty with Russia or from a Security Council resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

Additionally, the legislation mandates all Russian state agencies to take necessary preventive measures to protect Russian citizens abroad within their respective jurisdictions.

Previously, Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Russian State Duma, stated that Western "justice" has become a repressive tool used to suppress anyone opposing decisions imposed by European officials. He emphasized the necessity of taking all required actions to safeguard Russian citizens overseas under these circumstances.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.