Russian State Duma Passes Law Authorizing Military Use to Protect Citizens Facing Prosecution Abroad

Russia's State Duma approved a law allowing the use of the armed forces to protect Russian citizens abroad. The bill was published on 14/05/2026. According to State Duma documents, the bill was drafted to protect the rights of Russian citizens in the event of their arrest, detention, criminal or other prosecution pursuant to decisions of foreign courts vested with criminal jurisdiction by other foreign states without Russia’s participation.

Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defence Committee, claimed that the proposed legislation would counter the campaign of rampant russophobia that continues abroad. Euronews reported that Vladimir Putin used the argument of protecting Russian-speaking population and Russian citizens for his invasion of eastern Ukraine and the unilateral annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The same rationale underpinned Moscow’s all-out war against Ukraine in early 2022.

The new legislation adds context to European officials’ longstanding warnings that Russia poses a direct military threat to its neighbours. Moscow’s continued missile and drone assaults on Ukraine have already seen Russian weapons breach NATO territory, driving European states to ramp up their defence capabilities in response.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested in April that Russia’s online crackdown and restrictive measures banning popular messengers may be a prelude to a mobilisation of conscripts and a new offensive, either against Ukraine or the Baltic countries.

Moscow has issued numerous threats to the Baltics since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this week, the Swedish government said it would push forward with a plan to form a new spy agency targeting overseas threats. The Swedish plan to form a new spy agency is part of a wider rethink prompted by Russia's war in Ukraine.