Donetsk, Oct 11 – DAN. Over 700 foreigners received DPR passports since the authorities had started issuing the documents, the head of the Immigration Service of the Interior Ministry Vladimir Krasnoscheka told DAN.
"DPR passports have been issued to 714 foreigners," he said.
Krasnoscheka informed that among those foreigners who received DPR passports have been given to citizens of nearly 30 countries, such as Russia, France, Germany, Finland, and Brazil.
DPR began issuing its passports on March 16, 2016. The first 20 DPR residents received IDs from Zakharcheno. The authorities said at the time that priority was given to those who turned 16, 25 and 45 years old and to those who lost Ukrainian passports. Large-scale issuance of DPR passports was announced later, on June 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 19, 2017 signed a decree validating identification documents issued by the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.
The decree was signed “to protect human rights and freedoms in accordance with the widely recognized principles of international humanitarian law” and to remain in force “for the period until the political settlement of the situation is achieved” on the basis of the Minsk Agreements. *ot