Russia’s State Duma on Tuesday unanimously ratified the treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics (DPR and LPR), submitted by President Vladimir Putin, TASS reports.
The Russian head of state declared the recognition of their sovereignty on Monday. The legislators introduced amendments to the laws on ratification saying the treaties were effective as of the moment of their publication.
The legislators gave the results of the voting a standing ovation.
"The bills are now forwarded to the Federation Council for our colleagues to consider. The president will then decide the future of ratification," State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said.
Putin signed the treaties with the heads of the Donbass republics - Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik. The agreements are identical. In part, they say that "the sides shall build their relations as friendly states, being systematically governed by the principles of mutual respect for state sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace settlement of disputes," as well as the principles of equality and non-interference.
Under the treaties either side shall let the other build and use military bases and facilities on its territory. "For the purpose of maintaining the security of the contracting parties and also peace and stability either contracting party shall grant the other contracting party the right to build, use and improve its military infrastructures (facilities) on its territory," the treaties say. In each individual case this provision will be applied within the framework of separate agreements.
The DPR and LPR borders will be guarded jointly "proceeding from the contracting parties’ interests of security and also peace and stability." A separate agreement will be concluded on this issue.
