MOSCOW, October 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed four federal constitutional laws on the accession of the Donetsk and the Lugansk People’s Republics, as well as the Zaporozhye and the Kherson Regions to Russia, according to relevant documents that were published on Wednesday.
Under the laws, residents of the new regions are considered Russian nationals from the date when the territories were admitted to Russia - September 30. Those who wish to renounce their Russian citizenship, though, have a month to apply to do so.
One can obtain Russian citizenship after having taken the oath of allegiance, provided a relevant request has been filed beforehand.
Borders of territories
According to the documents, the DPR and LPR within Russia will retain the status of republics and their former names, and Russian will be the state language. The Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions will also be included in the Russian Federation as separate entities: they will remain regions.
The borders of the republics and regions will be determined by the borders that "existed on the day of their formation and admission into the Russian Federation". International treaties specify that the borders adjacent to the territory of a foreign state will be the Russian state border. At the same time, as constitutional laws state, the DPR and the LPR are part of the Russian Federation within the 2014 borders established by their constitutions.
Transition period
According to the laws, there will be a transition period from the day the new regions were included in Russia until January 1, 2026. Citizens of the Russian Federation residing in the territories of the DPR, the LPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions will be provided with employment guarantees. Educational documents issued earlier in the DPR, the LPR, and Ukraine will be recognized, as well as documents confirming one's civil status, work experience, and right to receive pensions, as well as social and medical assistance.
By June 1, 2023, territorial subdivisions of the federal executive authorities will be established in these regions. During the transition period prosecutorial bodies will also be created and the functioning of the Russian judicial system will be ensured.
Currency and budget
The currency in the DPR, the LPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions from January 1, 2023 will be the Russian ruble, and until the end of 2022 circulation of the Ukrainian hryvnia will be allowed in these subjects. At the same time, the Bank of Russia will introduce the specifics of credit and non-credit financial institutions.
As of January 1, 2023, budgetary legislation of Russia will apply to the new subjects, the budgets of the new regions will be approved by December 15, 2022.
In addition, until January 1, 2028, the state registration of rights to immovable property will be possible on the basis of documents issued by the public authorities of the republics and Ukraine. A special regime of town planning regulation is to be set up before January 1, 2028. After that the town planning processes will be brought into full compliance with the Russian Town Planning Code.
On accession of new subjects
On September 30, a solemn ceremony was held in the Kremlin, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties with the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as with the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions on the accession of the territories to the Russian Federation. Earlier, referendums were held there, and residents of the regions supported joining Russia by a majority vote.
On Sunday, the Russian president submitted to the State Duma draft federal constitutional laws on the four subjects joining Russia, as well as international treaties for ratification. Earlier that day, the Russian Constitutional Court approved these documents. The Duma unanimously adopted the federal constitutional laws and ratified the international treaties at its October 3 session. The documents were then approved by the Federation Council.