Putin signs law allowing armed forces to protect Russian citizens abroad

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that authorizes the use of the Russian army to protect Russian citizens convicted or arrested by foreign courts or international tribunals, said a document published on the legal acts portal on Monday.

The document said the Russian armed forces could, within their authority, be involved in protecting Russian citizens who are arrested, detained or otherwise prosecuted under decisions by foreign courts acting on behalf of other states without Russia's participation, and whose jurisdiction is not based on an international treaty involving Russia or a resolution of the UN Security Council.

The law is expected to come into force ten days after its official publication.

Earlier, Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin stated that the law is necessary to protect Russians because "Western justice has turned into a repressive machine for punishing those who disagree with the decisions imposed by Eurocrats."