Russia is taking steps to allow its armed forces to free Russian citizens detained abroad if Moscow believes they have been unjustly convicted, under a proposed bill backed by President Vladimir Putin, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The speaker of the lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, said the amendment would be considered under the fast-track procedure in the State Duma, describing it as a measure to "strengthen the protection of the rights of Russian citizens from the actions of hostile states".
The proposal, which has already been approved by the government, is expected to be adopted without difficulty.
Under the changes, the military could be used to ensure the release of Russian citizens if Moscow considers their conviction or imprisonment by foreign courts or international judicial bodies to be unjust.
Putin himself is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, DPA reported.
Russia's military doctrine already allows the use of force abroad to protect Russian citizens - a justification Moscow invoked during its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, where many residents in the eastern part of the country were issued Russian passports.
The new measure would extend this principle to cases where Russians are imprisoned or prosecuted by foreign or international courts, DPA reported.