Moscow should have a right to take any step necessary to protect Russian citizens, the State Duma chair believes
Russia needs legislation that would give its president free rein when defending the country’s citizens in case international structures, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), make decisions that contradict the nation’s constitution, the State Duma Chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin said on Saturday. He cited US law as an example.
The US adopted the American Service-Members' Protection Act in 2002 – nicknamed “The Hague Invasion Act." The legislation was designed to protect America’s military personnel as well as elected and appointed officials from prosecution by international criminal courts, to which Washington is not a party.
The act authorizes the US president to use “all means necessary and appropriate to bring about the release of any US or allied personnel” detained or imprisoned on behalf of the ICC, since the US is not a party to the Rome Statute regulating its activities. The authorization implies potential military action, leading to the act's informal name......more below
