The Russian Duma passed a new law granting the Kremlin expanded authority to deploy military force abroad to defend Russian citizens if they are arrested or charged, including by international courts in which Russia does not participate. This measure, approved by the Federation Council and awaiting President Putin's signature, aims to intimidate other countries and international legal bodies, deterring them from prosecuting Russians, potentially including Putin himself, and thereby undermining the international legal system.
The law builds on a December 2025 measure allowing Moscow to disregard international court charges, with Russian officials like Vyacheslav Volodin and Andrei Kartapolov framing Western jurisprudence as a tool of "Russophobia." Critics, such as Moscow lawyer Ilya Novikov, warn the law functions as a "scare tactic" akin to nuclear threats, potentially leading to Russian military action against smaller neighbors like Latvia. This move further compromises the international order, increasing the likelihood of states using force and making "might makes right" a prevailing principle.
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