First Deputy Head of the Communist Party faction in the State Duma Nikolay KolomeytsevMOSCOW, Jan 19The first deputy head of the Communist Party faction in the State Duma, Nikolai Kolomeytsev, told RIA Novosti that the project to recognize the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) as independent is a continuation of the phased return of Russia's historical territories. Vladimir Putin to consider recognizing the DPR and LPR as independent states, as well as the earliest possible negotiations with the leadership of the republics to create a legal basis for interstate relations and regulate all aspects of cooperation and mutual assistance.
Peskov reacted to the draft appeal to Putin on the recognition of the DPR and LPR «We actually believe that this bill is a continuation of the recognition of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Crimea. This is a phased return of the historical territories of Russia,» Kolomeitsev said. According to the parliamentarian, the bill on independence of the LPR and DPR «will put an end to the suffering of the civilian population, which suffers daily from shelling.» «Attentively listening to the press conference of (Russian President Vladimir — ed.) Putin and (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei — ed.) Lavrov, we realized that they agree with us. We prepared this bill a long time ago,» Kolomeitsev added.
The MP answered the question about the possibility of recognizing the DPR and LPR Moscow on August 26, 2008, after Georgia's armed aggression against Tskhinval, recognized the sovereignty of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The leaders of Russia have repeatedly stated that the recognition of the independence of the two former Georgian autonomies reflects the existing realities and is not subject to revision. However, Tbilisi refuses to recognize the independence of the republics. Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum held there in March 2014, in which 96.77% of Crimean voters and 95.6% of Sevastopol residents voted for joining Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea its own, but temporarily occupied territory. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the inhabitants of Crimea democratically, in full accordance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the issue of Crimea is «finally closed».The Federation Council reacted to the draft appeal to Putin on the recognition of the DPR and LPRIn April 2014, the authorities of Ukraine launched a military operation against the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR, which declared independence after the coup in Kiev in February 2014. According to the latest UN data, about 13 thousand people became victims of the conflict. The issue of resolving the situation in Donbass is being discussed, including during meetings of the contact group. However, even after the ceasefire agreements, skirmishes continue, in the DPR and LPR they announced shelling of residential areas by Ukrainian heavy artillery. Moscow has repeatedly stated that Kiev does not comply with the Minsk agreements and drags out negotiations to resolve the conflict. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Kiev sent half of the entire personnel of the armed forces of Ukraine to the Donbass. Moscow expressed concern about the transfer of military equipment from NATO countries to the Russian borders and the increase in the number of Western instructors in the Donbass. Western countries continue to provide military support to Ukraine, including by supplying weapons that are used in the Donbass. , the MP believes
