Russian State Duma Approves Draft Bill on Recognition of DPR, LPR | Farsnews Agency

(FNA)- The lower house of the Russian Parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of sending a resolution on the recognition of the self-proclaimed Donbass republics to President Vladimir Putin.

According to Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, parliament will send a formal address to President Putin, calling for the recognition of the republics in Donbass, Sputnik reported.

"Lawmakers believe that the recognition of DPR and LPR will create the grounds for ensuring security guarantees and protecting the population of the republics from external threats, as well as strengthening international peace and regional stability in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and will initiate the process of international recognition of both states," Volodin said on Telegram.

Volodin also stressed that Kiev disregards the Minsk agreements, saying that Russians living in Donbass require help and support.

Some 351 MPs in the Duma backed the draft, 16 voted "no", and one abstained.

The resolution, supported by Russian lawmakers, comes amid an escalation of tensions around Ukraine since Washington and London have been repeatedly claiming over the past few weeks that Russia is planning to "invade" its neighbour soon. Moscow blasted those accusations as fake, noting they are hyped up while Ukraine is planning a provocation in Donbass.

DPR and LPR proclaimed their independence back in 2014 after a violent coup d'etat occurred in Kiev. In response, Ukrainian authorities launched a military invasion to try to crush the republics. The war has claimed the lives of at least 31,000 people, while over 2.5 million civilians were either internally or externally displaced.

Hundreds of thousands of them took refuge in Russia and were granted citizenship. Last month, Moscow warned that it would not tolerate any provocations by Kiev in Donbass, or any attacks against Russian citizens living there.

The Russian society is not indifferent to Donbass’ fate, but Moscow remains committed to the Minsk Agreements, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists Tuesday, commenting on the State Duma discussion of draft addresses to President Putin regarding the recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, TASS reported.

"It is no secret that this issue is very relevant in the public opinion; our people react very strongly to what is happening in Donbass, and they root for all the people living in Donbass amid the ongoing tensions. Nobody remains indifferent to the fate of Donbass people, and this is the atmosphere that currently exists in the public opinion," Peskov noted.

At the same time, he added that "Russia has repeatedly declared its commitment to the Minsk Package of Measures and advocates the prompt implementation of the Minsk plan of action, in the exact order that is implied there".

Meanwhile, commenting on the discussion of this issue in the Russian State Duma, Peskov noted that "the deputies reflect the opinion of the people, so they discuss what is relevant for the people".

We treat it with understanding, it is impossible to treat it in any other way," the spokesman added.

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