Russia is moving to give Vladimir Putin new powers to send troops abroad – including to protect Russians arrested by foreign courts.
A draft law submitted to the State Duma would allow the military to be used outside Russia if citizens are detained or prosecuted by courts that Moscow does not recognize.
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This includes international courts and foreign legal bodies that act “without the participation” of Russia, according to the document.
Right now, Russian law already allows troops to be sent abroad in certain cases – such as defending allies, responding to attacks on Russian forces, protecting citizens from armed attacks, or fighting piracy.
The new bill would expand those rules and make it easier to justify military action.
The move comes as Europe accelerates plans for a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s leadership over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Council of Europe first announced the initiative in 2025, with 26 EU countries backing the effort. In January, the bloc approved €10 million in initial funding for the court, expected to follow a Nuremberg Trials-style model and target at least 20 senior figures.
Against that backdrop, the Kremlin’s latest legal push appears designed to create a framework for using force to shield its officials – or others – from foreign prosecution.
The bill also lands amid mounting warnings from Western intelligence that Russia could be preparing for a broader confrontation with NATO.
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