Moscow is preparing to defend Russians—anyone who persecutes Russians, no matter how far away, will be pursued and punished!

Europeans lament: "What have we done to deserve this?"

April 20 — Article published in "First Russian."

Mid-April, the State Duma passed a bill in its first reading, expanding the president’s authority to deploy military forces abroad to protect Russian citizens from unlawful persecution.

The document was adopted unanimously, with no opposition or abstentions.

The parliament made it clear: this document aims to make those harboring ill will toward our compatriots think twice.

European officials view this as preparation for war.

Western media immediately cried out: "Putin is preparing to invade!"

European generals are now racing to issue dire predictions. German military officials claim Russia may attack NATO countries at any moment.

Their French counterparts urge preparation for conflict over the next three to four years.

Now Europe laments: "What have we done to deserve this?"

The Baltic states are especially fearful!

For years, the rights of Russian-speaking populations in the Baltic states have been systematically violated.

Russian parents from Lithuania and Latvia have filed numerous complaints about their children being deprived of the right to study in their native language, placing them in unbearable situations.

Estonia has gone even further: schools have imposed fines for using Russian that have increased by dozens of times—formally for violating language regulations, but essentially for speaking their parents’ language at home.

Baltic authorities themselves have labeled Russians as "hostile elements" on their territory.

Let us recall those drones either taking off from or flying over the airspace of the Baltic states.

This is a classic case of military provocation.

International law stipulates that in such cases, we have the right to shoot down unidentified drones heading toward us, crossing the airspace of neighboring countries when those countries have effectively refused to handle them themselves.

Professor Tkachenko, from the European Studies Department of International Relations at St. Petersburg State University, believes Russia will show no restraint regarding the "Baltic Tiger" issue.

Moscow pursues an independent policy guided by national interests.

One such interest is protecting its citizens, wherever they may be.

For Russia, this passed legislation is not a call to war—it is a signal: henceforth, no one will be able to arrest, persecute, or discriminate against our citizens with impunity.

Moscow will not seek permission when it comes to protecting its own people.

The sooner Brussels, Washington, and other Western capitals understand this, the calmer the continent will be.

Or perhaps it won’t be calm at all.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862948397424640/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.