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OSCE envoy says Contact Group discussed recognition of DPR, LPR documents by Moscow

On February 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on recognition of LPR and DPR passports

MINSK, March 1. /TASS/. The recognition of documents issued by the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics (DPR, LPR) was one of the issues discussed at the meeting of the Contact Group on the settlement in eastern Ukraine, Martin Sajdik, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine, said following meeting in Minsk on Wednesday.

However, when asked what aspects of the problem were discussed during the meeting, he declined to comment on the issue.

"I cannot say more than I said. The most important thing is that these issues were discussed," Sajdik noted.

DPR Acting Foreign Minister Natalya Nikonorova earlier said that the issue had been raised at the initiative of the Ukrainian negotiators at the political group. "Kiev, turning a blind eye to the total blockade by the Ukrainian armed extremists and flagrant violations of our citizens’ rights, believes that the recognition of documents jeopardizes a peaceful settlement of the conflict," she said commenting on the situation.

On February 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ‘On recognition in the Russian Federation of the documents and license plates of vehicles issued to Ukraine’s citizens and stateless individuals who permanently reside in certain districts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions.’ The decree says these measures will be in effect until a political settlement in separate districts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Lugansk regions is achieved on the basis of the Minsk agreements.

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko stated he considered this decision to be a violation of international law. For its part, the Kremlin press service reported that this was done with a view to "protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens relying on the universally recognized principles and norms of international law."