Russia has a lengthy history of compatriots abroad reaching back to the 19th century and stretching into the Putin era. Russians have endured centuries of repression, from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union, forcing millions to leave.
Escape from that tyranny has produced the world's third largest diaspora, estimated at some 25,000,000 currently. This is soon to mushroom with Russia's easing of it's dual citizenship policy – some estimate at least a 5,000,000 additional Russians in the West, without even having to speak the language.
It's a resource that the Kremlin knows it can manipulate and/or harass to advance its interests. A change to the Russian constitution would give Russia “the right to use any force to protect the lives and property of its citizens abroad in cases where the host country cannot or does not want to provide them with the protection to which they are entitled”. But there are other aspects to the diaspora-Moscow relations. (Pikemalt Eesti Elu 27.03.2020 paber- ja PDF/digilehes)
