Russia’s Parliament votes to let Putin send troops to Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday, September 29, to let President Vladimir Putin send Russian troops abroad, particularly to Syria. The Kremlin said it will only use its air force there, not ground troops, the Associated Press reports.

The Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, discussed Putin's request for the authorization behind closed doors Wednesday, cutting off its live web broadcast to hold a debate notable for its quickness.

Sergei Ivanov, chief of Putin's administration, said in televised remarks after the discussion that the parliament voted unanimously to give the green light to Putin's plea. The proposal does not need to go to another legislative body.

Ivanov insisted that Moscow is not going to send ground troops to Syria but will only use its air force "in order to support the government Syrian forces in their fight against the Islamic State" group.

Ivanov said the motion comes after Moscow received a request from Assad asking for help. He said the biggest difference between other countries conducting air strikes in Syria — such as the United States — is that "they do not comply with the international law, but we do."

Putin had to request parliamentary approval for any use of Russian troops abroad, according to the constitution. Putin said in a CBS interview earlier this week that Russia won't take part in any troop operations in Syria.

Putin's troop request comes after his bilateral meeting Monday with President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, where the two discussed Russia's recent military buildup in Syria.