The legal status of Russian citizens abroad not only acts as an object of state activity, but at the same time constitutes the subject of Russian state policy. The Russian state is pursuing a policy of protecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of man and citizen in relation to compatriots, but at the same time, interference of the Russian Federation in the internal affairs of a foreign state is unacceptable. This article discusses issues related to the protection of the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation outside the state, as well as the activities of bodies whose duties include protecting the rights and interests of persons outside the country, and examines the regulatory framework aimed at the implementation of these rights.