MOSCOW, March 20. /ITAR-TASS/. The legal process of finalizing Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s accession to the Russian Federation will be completed by the end of the week, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“Currently, we are involved in practical implementation of the agreements on Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s accession to the Russian Federation,” the minister said.

“The legal process is due to be completed this week,” he added.

Moscow insists the rights of the Russian Federation’s compatriots are observed fully, Lavrov added.

He continued stressing the foreign ministry had been protecting rights of the Russian compatriots.

“We shall be fighting for their interests by political and diplomatic methods,” Lavrov said. “We shall insist their rights and freedoms are observed fully in the countries where [our] compatriots are living.”