MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma passed legislation extending the list of the president's security powers at the third and final reading on Tuesday.
The bill empowers the Russian president to take measures in line with the law to protect Russia and its citizens in case foreign or international bodies/organizations make decisions against or act contrary to Russia's interests, or against the foundations of law and order in the country.
The bill also regulates the formation of peacekeeping forces by stipulating that military personnel dispatched for peacekeeping activities is staffed on a voluntary basis by service members who have undergone special training.
The current legislation says that such forces should be constituted from service members serving in the military on a contract basis.
The bill's enactment will expand Russia's ability to engage its troops in peacekeeping activities, the Duma's Defense Committee said in its review of the bill.