The Federation Council on Wednesday approved a request by President Dmitry Medvedev to grant him the right to send troops abroad without the consent of the senators, Interfax reported.
“This is about solving immediate tasks connected to a threat to the lives of Russian nationals, as well as fighting piracy and securing the safety of shipping traffic,” Medvedev’s envoy to the Federation Council, Alexander Kotenkov, told the senators before the vote.
In early November, Medvedev signed a bill into law that allows him to send troops abroad to fend off attacks on the Russian military, to deter aggression against a third country, to defend Russian citizens, to combat pirates and to protect ships.
Medvedev, who ordered the bill, has made it clear that he was motivated by last year’s five-day war, which started when Tbilisi tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force. Most residents in South Ossetia and Georgia’s other breakaway region, Abkhazia, hold Russian passports.
The November law overlaps with a 2006 law on countering terrorism that allows the military to fight terrorists outside Russia. Under that law, the decision to deploy troops abroad is to be made by the president after getting a resolution from the Federation Council.
The provisions of the November law allowing Russia to defend foreign forces and countries apply to states that have signed military cooperation pacts with Russia, which include South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow recognized as independent after the August 2008 war.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.