The government of the russian federation on March 19 submitted to the State Duma of the russian federation a draft law on the president’s right to use the armed forces to protect russians arrested by decision of foreign courts or international bodies. This is reported by russian media.
According to media wording, the draft contains:
- extraterritorial use of the armed forces of the russian federation by decision of the president to protect russians;
- the possibility for state bodies, by decision of the president, to take measures to protect citizens of the russian federation in case of their arrest, detention, criminal or other prosecution;
- linking these measures to cases when the prosecution is carried out in execution of decisions of foreign states, foreign courts, or international bodies.
Kommersant reported that the draft law was developed by the Ministry of Defense, and experts interviewed by the publication allowed that in practice it may concern, for example, the legislative formalization of military escort of oil tankers.