VIENNA, March 3./TASS/. Russia’s recognizing documents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics does not violate the Minsk agreements, Russia’s permanent representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich, said on Thursday.
He said Russian president’s 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" is aimed at creating conditions for a full enforcement of their rights and freedoms.
"This humane move in no way violates the Minsk agreements and even doesn’t make their implementation more difficult. On the contrary, it gives Donbass residents additional confidence in the future, a possibility to meet their bare necessities," he said, adding that for the Kiev authorities it was another reason for thinking about a need not to stall on granting the pledged special status to certain areas of Donbass.
Temporary measure
Thus, Russia proceeds from humanitarian considerations as opposed to the Ukrainian government, which uses power and water cuts as their favorite tool, Lukashevich said.
"Nothing hampers recognition of basic documents which are required for the exercise of rights and freedoms, if such documents are granted by the authorities, that do not enjoy international recognition. Such precedents exist," he said.
The permanent representative recalled that "this measure is temporary - for the period of political settlement of the situation in specific districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine under the Minsk agreements."
"What really complicates the implementation of the Minsk agreements, it is groundless arguments about the transfer of control over the border until holding local elections and other fantasies, which contradict the spirit and letter of the set of measures," Lukashevich said.
On February 18, President Vladimir Putin signed 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 decree in particular states that these measures come into effect temporary for the period of political settlement of the situation in specific districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine under the Minsk agreements."
President of Ukraine Pyotr Poroshenko said he believes the decision of the Russian President was "violation of international law." Kremlin press-service said that this was done "in order to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals, being guided by the universally recognized principles and norms of international humanitarian law.".