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State Duma unanimously ratifies treaties on new regions’ accession to Russia

The Russian president will appoint acting heads of the regions within 10 days since their accession
Donetsk People's Republic Yegor Aleyev/TASS
Donetsk People's Republic
© Yegor Aleyev/TASS

MOSCOW, October 3. /TASS/. Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, on Monday unanimously ratified four international treaties on the accession of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions to Russia.

The documents were signed in Moscow on September 30. The international treaties also stipulate the establishment of the new regions’ borders. The borders of the republics and regions will be defined by the borders of territories, which "existed on the day of their establishment and accession to Russia." The international treaties outline that the borders adjacent to the territory of a foreign country will be Russia’s state border.

The documents also say two republics and two regions, which will keep their current names, will be created since the day of their accession to Russia. Their heads will get the status of governors.

The Russian president will appoint acting heads of the regions within 10 days since their accession. The regions’ governments will be set up by acting governors "in accordance with the Russian legislation."

On October 2, the Russian president submitted draft federal constitutional laws to the State Duma on the accession of the new regions to Russia, as well as international treaties for ratification. The day before, the Russian Constitutional Court had approved the documents submitted by the head of state.

On September 30, a ceremony was held in the Kremlin, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and the Kherson and Zaporozhye Regions treaties on the new territories joining Russia. Earlier, referendums were held there, and residents of the regions supported joining Russia by a majority of votes.