Russian senators approve use of military forces on Ukrainian territory
1 March 2014, 19:40
Russia's Federation Council has unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin's request to use Russian military forces in Ukraine. The move is aimed to settle the turmoil in the split country. The upper house of the Russian parliament has voted in favor of sending troops to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which would ensure peace and order in the region 'until the socio-political situation in the country is stabilized.' The Russian president will make the final decision on the strength of Russian troops to be used in the Ukraine in accordance with the decision of the Federation Council.
The Federation Council's decision to grant the Russian president the right to use Russian troops in the Crimea does not mean that it will be done in the nearest future, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
'The consent which was given to our president does not necessarily mean that he is going to exercise his power quickly,' Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said.
The Russian president appointed the senior diplomat as a special envoy to the Federation Council, when considering the use of the Russian military on the territory of the Ukraine.
The Russian president will make the final decision on the strength of Russian troops to be used in the Ukraine in accordance with the decision of the Federation Council. The decision is supported by the 2009 amendments to the law 'On Defense'.
As the Deputy Foreign Minister noted, the number of troops that could be used in the Ukraine is not going to be discussed yet.
'We need to properly interpret the president's address, as well as is the consent given by the Federation Council, which refers to possible use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation,' Karasin said.
'They had no other choice but to give this consent, for we are not simply concerned about the situation in the Ukraine, it truly bothers the Russian society and the situation is aggravating,' he said.
The Federation Council on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution, granting the Russian president the right to use Russian armed forces in the Ukraine until the political situation there is stabilized.
The vote at an extraordinary meeting of the Federation Council was held in public. All senators present spoke for approval of the Russian president's initiative.
The Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said, that the present decree comes into force from the date of its adoption.
Russian Federation Council's Committee on Foreign Affairs recommends senators to permit use of force in Ukraine
The Committee on International Relations of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russian parliament, on Saturday, March 1, supported President Vladimir Putin's appeal regarding the use of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine pending normalisation of the situation in the neighbouring country.
The Federation Council Committee on Security also supported the president's appeal. Both committees advised the upper house to uphold it, Security Committee Chair Viktor Ozerov and International Relation Committee Chair Vladimir Dzhabarov said.
The Federation Council was summoned for an urgent meeting on Saturday to discuss Putin's letter.
Putin asks Federation Council for permit to send armed forces in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Federation Council for permit to use Russian armed forces in Ukraine until the situation in the country stabilizes, the Kremlin press service reports.
'Due to the emergency situation in Ukraine and a threat being posed to the lives of Russian nationals, our compatriots, and the Russian military contingent stationed in Ukraine (the Autonomous Republic of Crimea) in compliance with international agreements, I ask the Federation Council for permit to use Russian armed forces on the territory of Ukraine until social and political situation in the country stabilizes,' a statement says.
Issue solving procedure of possibility of use of Russian Armed Forces outside territory of Russia
In accordance with the section 'd' of paragraph 1 of Article 102 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, admission of the possibility of using the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the territory of Russia is the responsibility of the Federation Council. It is considered at the request of the president of the Russian Federation.
The Federation Council shall consider the possibility of using the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation outside the country's territory after the receipt of the request made by the president of Russia, containing the rationale for his proposal.
The chairman of the Federation Council sends this request to the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security and to the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs to prepare reports.
The Federation Council is considering the possibility of using the Armed Forces outside the territory of the Russian Federation at the next sitting of the House after the Federation Council receives the president's request. The President and Prime Minister of Russia are both invited to attend the meeting.
The meeting begins with a presentation by the President of the Russian Federation or on behalf of the presidential representative in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, followed by the reports of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security and the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The decision on the possibility of using the Armed Forces outside the Russian Federation shall be adopted by a majority vote of all members of the Federation Council and the Federation Council issues a resolution.
This document shall be sent to the President of the Russian Federation within two days since its adoption.
Russian parliament urges Putin to use all options to defend Crimean population
The State Duma has urged the Russian President to do all he can to protect the local population, its speaker said.
'The Council of the State Duma, on behalf of MPs, has asked the president to take measures to stabilise the situation in Crimea and use all available options to protect the population of Crimea from lawlessness and violence,' speaker Sergei Naryshkin said in a statement read on state television.
The Council of the State Duma is made up of faction chiefs and the lower house speaker.
Voice of Russia, RIA, AFP, TASS
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
