Putin signs law on National Guard

Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his signature under the Law on National Guard troops (Rosgvardia). "The troops of the National Guard of the Russian Federation are the state military organization to ensure state and public security, protection of the rights and freedoms of people and citizens,’’ the document says.

This document also regulates rights and powers of military personnel. According to its articles, they will be able to "check citizens’ documents certifying their identity if they have reasonable grounds to suspect them of committing a crime or an administrative offense,’’ "carry out administrative detention of persons who committed an administrative offense and hand them over to the police."

In addition, military personnel of the National Guard will have the right "to cordon (block) sectors of the terrain during operations to neutralize mass disorders and other actions that violate the traffic, the work of communication infrastructure and organizations."

The law also regulates the rules of use of the National Guard’s force. ‘‘Military men of the National Guard have the right not to warn about its intention to use physical force, special means and firearms in case if a delay in their application poses an imminent threat to the life and health of a citizen or the National Guard’s members or may entail other grave consequences," the document says.

It particularly stipulates that "prior to use physical force, special means and firearms it should be informed those people in respect of who physical force, special means and firearms are supposed to be used that the person is a member of the National Guard. "

The signing of this document by President completed the process of legislative registration of the new power structure.