MOSCOW -- The Russian State Duma has adopted a legislative act empowering the president to deploy armed forces to protect Russian nationals from unjust Western justice.

Under the adopted law, the Russian president may deploy the Russian Armed Forces to protect its citizens who have been "arrested, detained, or subjected to criminal or other prosecution based on decisions of foreign courts or international judicial bodies in which Russia does not participate," said a statement released on the Duma's official website on Wednesday.

"Western 'justice' has turned into a repressive machine for punishing those who disagree with the decisions imposed by Eurocrats. In these conditions, it is important to do everything to ensure that our citizens abroad are protected," said State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin, noting the law is necessary to protect Russians from unjust Western justice.

The document still needs to be approved by the Federation Council, before being submitted to the president for signature.