MOSCOW, July 4 (RAPSI) – President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill on veteran status for Russian nationals who participated in the military operation in Syria into law, according to the official legal information website.

The veteran status would be granted to Russian military officers and civilians employed in the Armed Forces who were sent to Syria to perform special tasks since September 30, 2015 and who worked there for specified period of time or were sent away from Syria for good reasons.

The legislation would apply to about 25,000 Russian citizens.

These people would get social privileges, provided by Russian law “On veterans”.  Such privileges include: pre-emptive right to receive vouchers to sanatoriums; pre-emptive right to be included in advantage in horticultural, gardening and dacha non-profit associations; ability to have the annual leave at a convenient time.