The Russian Duma has approved legislation giving Bladimir Putin the freedom to intervene militarily outside inside borders in cases of persecution of Russians by foreign states or international organizations.
In a move that is causing intense concern in the international community, the Russian Duma has approved a bill that gives President Vladimir Putin the power to order military operations abroad under the pretext of protecting Russian citizens.
The new legislation covers cases where Russian nationals are arrested, tried or mistreated by foreign states and international courts in which Russia does not participate, with Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin describing Western justice as a “repressive mechanism“.
The development comes at a time when European intelligence agencies consider Moscow an immediate threat, while fears are expressed that the Kremlin may attempt to test NATO’s cohesion while the Trump administration’s “window of opportunity” remains open.
Given that similar rhetoric about protecting “compatriots” was used to justify the invasion of Ukraine, the West is watching with obvious concern, especially after Volodymyr Zelensky’s warnings about possible future targeting of the Baltic states.
