The European Council to Continue its Non-recognition of Russian passports issued in Certain Areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk Regions

The Department of Federal Migration Service in Rostov region received about 12 thousand applications for obtaining Russian citizenship from residents of the Donbass. The EU Council warned that it might not recognize the documents issued to them. The European Council said it could not recognize the passports issued by Russia to residents of Certain Areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk Regions. “The European Council will continue to monitor the situation in eastern Ukraine and stands ready to consider further options, including non-recognition of Russian passports issued in contradiction to the Minsk agreements,” press release reads. The European Council calls for an urgent resumption of negotiating efforts with a view to the implementation of the Minsk agreements and for measures aimed at rebuilding confidence among the parties. At the end of April Russian President Vladimir Putin simplified the procedure for obtaining Russian passports by residents of self-proclaimed DNR and LNR. This was done “in order to protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen,” the presidential decree says. RBC