The Russian State Duma has adopted a law that formally gives Vladimir Putin the authority to send Russian troops into any country in the world „to free Russian citizens who are imprisoned or persecuted abroad". The vote: 381 in favour, none against.

It's one of those votes that happen in Russia these days - no real debate, no opposition voice, no amendments. Simply, a need for a document. Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin explained the logic: „Western justice has essentially become an instrument of repression. Moscow has a duty to protect its citizens with every available means."

Analysts read the move as a direct response to the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Putin, issued for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Russia doesn't recognise the ICC's jurisdiction, but the warrant has provoked real anger in Moscow.

What does it mean in practice? That if a Russian citizen - including Putin himself or a close associate - is arrested in some European country under an ICC warrant, the Kremlin has a „legal basis" to send special forces to spring him. It is, essentially, formalising something that is already happening informally.

The history is simple. In 2006, Putin signed a similar law on the use of special forces abroad. Soon after came „mysterious liquidations" across Europe, including the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in London. Most blatant, though, was the extraction of Russian oligarch Artem Uss from house arrest in Milan in April 2023 - reportedly with the help of Serbian organised crime. These operations were proof that the rules of international law, as far as Moscow is concerned, don't apply.

Now they get a legal basis too. That matters for the Balkans in two ways. First - Serbia with its Russian agentura was already part of one such operation, and it passed without major reactions in Belgrade. Whether Moscow will use Skopje, Podgorica, Banja Luka or Sofia for similar actions is a question of when, not if.

Second - Western intelligence services will now look at every Russian citizen on our territory differently. That's not good news for ordinary tourists. But it's a clear message: the line between „Russian legal system" and „Russian intelligence operations" has been officially erased. That's no longer a quiet reality. It's now also signed.

The formality remains - Putin's signature. Expected within days.