Russia’s lower house of parliament has approved in its first reading a draft law that would grant President Vladimir Putin the authority to deploy Russian armed forces abroad in cases where Russian citizens are detained or prosecuted by foreign courts.
Russia’s state news agency Interfax reported that the legislation would expand the legal grounds for overseas military operations, linking them directly to the protection of Russian nationals facing legal action outside the country.
An explanatory note attached to the bill states that the measure is intended to “protect the rights of Russian citizens” in international or foreign judicial proceedings, including those conducted by courts or institutions that Moscow does not recognize.
The proposal comes amid increasingly strained relations between Russia and Western countries, as well as a growing number of cases involving Russian nationals detained abroad. While Russian authorities frame the initiative as a legal safeguard for citizens, critics are likely to view it as a significant escalation that could broaden the scope for military intervention beyond Russia’s borders.
If adopted in subsequent readings and signed into law, the bill would further consolidate presidential powers over the use of military force internationally, raising concerns about potential implications for international law and state sovereignty.
No immediate reaction from foreign governments has been reported.
