Putin signs order recognizing DPR/LPR documents and visa-free travel to Russia

translated by J. Arnoldski
Novorossiya / Fort Russ News
Sat, 18 Feb 2017 17:26 UTC

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree entitled "On Recognizing Documents and License Plates issued to Citizens of Ukraine and Non-Citizens Permanently Residing on the Territories of Separate Districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk Regions of Ukraine," the Kremlin's press service has reported.

The decree states that this measure is being adopted temporarily until the political settlement of the conflict in Donbass.

According to the president's decree, Russia now officially recognizes not only passports, but also a number of other documents issued in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.

The decree reads:

"Establish, temporarily until the political settlement of the situation in separate areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine on the grounds of the Minsk Agreements, that:

a) Identity documents, documents of education and or qualification, birth certificates, the conclusion and or cancellation of marriage, name changes, death certificates, and transport registration licenses issued by the relevant authorities (organizations) acting on the territory of the indicated districts to citizens of Ukraine and non-citizens permanently residing on these territories will be recognized in the Russian Federation as valid;

b) citizens of Ukraine and non-citizens permanently residing on the territories of separate districts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine can enter the Russian Federation and exit the Russian Federation without a visa on the basis of documents proving their identity (on the grounds of a birth certificate for minors under the age of 16) issued by the relevant authorities acting on the territories of these areas..."

Comment: Interesting twist on the Eastern Ukraine situation. How will Trump and EU respond?

Lavrov mentions Moscow's position on E. Ukrainian regions seeking autonomy hasn't changed:

Representatives of the Normandy Four did not discuss Moscow's decision during a meeting on the sidelines of the security conference in Munich, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Germany.

"I don't think that anyone sees any change in [Moscow's] position" towards the Donbass region, the minister said.

The decree also states it "based on the norms of international humanitarian law."

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko slammed the decision, calling it "another proof of Russian occupation." After having spoken with the US Vice President Mike Pence on the fringes of the Munich conference, the Ukrainian leader accused Moscow of "violating international law" with its latest decree.