Donets, Sep 25 — DAN. The Federation Council upper house of the Russian parliament has supported the proposal to establish a commemorative date to honor the reunification of the new regions with the Russian Federation.
The senators present at the Monday session supported the proposal unanimously.
Russia recognized the independence of the Donbass Republics on February 21, 2022. On February 24, President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine. One of the objectives of the operation is the protection of the Donbass residents from Kiev aggression.
The new regions held referenda on their accession to the Russian Federation as constituent entities from September 23 to September 27, 2022. The Donetsk People’s Republic reported an unprecedented voter turnout with no less unprecedented result as 99.23 percent of voters cast their ballots for a future together with Russia. The Donetsk News Agency covered the voting across the DPR.
The ceremony to sign the agreements on the accession to the Russian Federation of the DPR, LPR and the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions was held on September 30. DAN correspondents posted reports and videos on local residents’ celebration of the event which lasted for several days.
A year later, President Vladimir Putin proposed to amend Article 11 of the Federal Law on Days of Military Glory and Remembrance Days adding September 30 to the list as Day of Reunification of the new regions with the Russian Federation. DPR Acting Head Denis Pushilin said that the date would take its rightful place in Russia’s timeline. The State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament supported Putin’s initiative on September 19.*jk