MOSCOW, October 5 (RAPSI) – President of Russia Vladimir Putin has signed federal constitutional bills on the admission of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics to the Russian Federation into law.

A transition period when prosecutor offices are to be established and the Russian judicial system’s functioning is to be provided in the regions will be active of the law’s entry and until January 1, 2026.

People living on the new Russian territories and those who previously lived there but left for Russia will acquire Russian citizenship.

Documents confirming education, marital status, employment history, right to pension, social and medical aid of residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics will be recognized in Russia.

Putin also approved the ratification of treaties on the admission of new regions to the Russian Federation and appointed the territories’ former heads to the posts of acting heads of new Russia’s regions.

Referendums in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions were held from 23 to 27 September. An absolute majority of their residents voted for the accession of the territories to Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking about the referendums, reminded that Russia is guided by the opinion of people living in the respective territories, and they are the masters of their own destiny. Deputy head of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev said that the referendums should restore historical justice.