Putin signs decree on 'protection of Russian citizens abroad'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree concerning the protection of Russian Federation citizens living outside the country. The move raises concerns among neighboring states, including Estonia, which has a significant Russian-speaking population.

Russian President [Vladimir Putin](/politicians/vladimir-putin) has signed a new decree declaring the protection of Russian Federation citizens living abroad as a state priority. The decree, issued from the Kremlin, formalizes Russia's stated commitment to intervening on behalf of its nationals in foreign countries.

The signing of such a decree raises immediate questions in Estonia and other Baltic states, where Russian citizens and Russian-speaking communities reside in significant numbers. Critics argue that similar rhetoric has historically been used by Moscow to justify interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries.

Russia has previously invoked the protection of its citizens abroad as justification for military actions, most notably in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine beginning in 2014. The new decree is seen by many analysts as a potential legal framework for future interventionist policies.

Estonian authorities have not yet issued an official response to the decree. However, Estonia's security services have long warned that Russia's so-called compatriot policy — aimed at maintaining influence over Russian speakers outside Russia's borders — poses a risk to national security and social cohesion in the Baltic region.

The decree comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations over the war in Ukraine, as well as continued debates within NATO about how to respond to hybrid threats and influence operations targeting member states.