Putin signs decree on recognition of documents given to Donbass people

The Kremlin’s press service says that it was done "so as to protect rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen".

MOSCOW, February 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ‘On recognition in the Russian Federation of the documents and license plates of vehicles issued to Ukraine’s citizens and persons without citizenship, who permanently reside in the areas of certain districts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions."

The Kremlin’s press service says that it was done "so as to protect rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen and in accordance with generally accepted principles and norms of international humanitarian law."

In particularly, the president emphasized in the decree that these measures are "provisional until a political solution is found to the situation in certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine on the basis of the Minsk agreements."

"The Russian Federation recognizes the identity documents, education and/or qualification documents; certificates of birth, marriage (divorce), change of name, death; vehicle ownership certificates and license plates of vehicles issued by relevant bodies (organizations), de facto operating in the given areas, to citizens of Ukraine and persons without citizenship permanently residing in those areas," the decree reads.

Ukrainian nationals and stateless persons who permanently live in the certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions will be able to enter Russia and leave it without applying for visas, just upon presenting IDs issued by relevant bodies de facto operating in the given areas.

The president instructed the cabinet to take necessary steps for implementing the decree that comes into force since the date of signing.

Source: ITAR-TASS 19-02-2017