The Russian parliament has approved a law allowing President Vladimir Putin to invade other countries. This was reported by the state news agency ‘Interfax’.
Journalist at HLN
The law allows Russia to send troops abroad to “protect” Russian citizens who are arrested or prosecuted by other countries, international courts or organizations to which Russia itself does not belong.
“Western ‘justice’ has become a repressive machine that suppresses anyone who disagrees with the decisions of European officials,” said parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. “Under these circumstances, it is important to do everything we can to ensure the protection of our citizens abroad.”
Step stool
In Europe it is feared that it is a stepping stone to attack Western countries and test unity within NATO. Kiev knows all about that.
Moscow has used the argument before, including to justify the invasion of Ukraine. This was allegedly carried out, among other things, to “protect” Russian-speaking Ukrainians. According to the Kremlin, their rights have been violated for years.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes the new law in the magazine ‘POLITICO’ as “aggressive lawlessness”. “By granting himself the right to deploy Russian troops abroad under the pretext of protecting Russian citizens, Putin recognizes that aggression has become the norm of his state policy.”
Baltic states
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned that the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania could become Moscow’s next targets.
Putin now has fourteen days to sign the new law.
