Putin signs law permitting use of army to protect Russians abroad
Moscow, May 25
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law allowing the Russian army to protect Russian citizens abroad, local media reported.
The law applies in the event of a citizen's arrest, criminal prosecution, or other legal action by foreign and international courts vested with jurisdiction without Russia's participation, Russia's state-owned TASS news agency reported.
The law also states that government agencies will, at the President's discretion, take measures to protect Russian citizens in the event of their arrest, criminal prosecution, or other legal action by foreign courts.
The law was approved by the Federation Council at a plenary session and authorised by the State Duma.
Under existing laws, the Russian President already has the authority to deploy the country's armed forces to perform tasks beyond their intended purpose.
This comes amid the arrest of Hilarion Alfeyev, a retired bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church residing in the Czech Republic.
He was arrested on Sunday after Czech police found containers with an unspecified substance in the boot of his car, according to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Russian Foreign Ministry is set to summon the head of the Czech diplomatic mission in Moscow in connection with the detention of Hilarion Alfeyev in Karlovy Vary.
The Ministry said he was arrested in the Czech Republic on "trumped-up charges".
According to the statement, the police conducted a personal search of Hilarion and his driver and tested them for narcotics, with negative results.
"We regard this incident as a deliberate, orchestrated provocation aimed at denigrating both the Metropolitan himself and, through him, Orthodoxy in principle, which has recently been under attack in the Czech Republic," the Ministry noted.
It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Hilarion Alfeyev and an end to the "fabricated investigation".
— IANS
Reader Comments
A new law to 'protect' citizens abroad? In India, we saw how our own government handled the case of our fishermen detained by Sri Lanka, or our nurses in Yemen. We evacuated them through diplomatic channels, not by threatening invasion. This is just Putin's way of justifying more aggression. Arre bhai, first fix your own problems.
Our PM has good relations with Russia, but this step takes things too far. How can a country claim to protect its citizens everywhere by threatening invasion? That's not protection, that's extortion. The Czech Republic has its own legal system. If the bishop did nothing wrong, let the courts decide. Simple.
Yeh kya ho raha hai? First Ukraine, now this 'law' to threaten other countries over individual arrests? It's scary how nationalism can turn into something ugly. India should send a clear message that such tactics are not acceptable in international relations. Human rights cannot be protected by army boots. 😔
This is a classic example of using legal instruments for geopolitical bullying. India, being a leader of the Global South, should raise this issue at the UN. Every country has the right to protect its citizens, but through legal and diplomatic means. Using military is like using a sword to kill a mosquito. Juvenille and dangerous.
As an Indian, I've always admired Russia's stand against Western hegemony, but this is just wrong. It sets a terrible precedent where any powerful country can claim 'protection' of its citizens to justify invasion. The Czech police found suspicious substances; why not go through proper investigation? This smacks of power abuse. 😞
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