MOSCOW, September 30 (RAPSI) — President Vladimir Putin has signed agreements on the admission of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics to Russia and the formation of new regions in the country.

“People have made their choice. An unequivocal choice. Today we are signing an agreement on the accession of four new subjects of the Russian Federation. Because this is the will of millions of people,” Putin said before signing the agreements.

The solemn signing ceremony took place in the St. George Hall of the Kremlin in the presence of the heads of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

The signing of the documents has launched the procedure for the accession of the four territories to Russia: the treaties must be first examined by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation for compliance with the fundamental law, and in case of a positive decision, ratified by the State Duma of the Russian Federation. 

Parliamentarians will also have to discuss the draft federal constitutional law on the adoption of new subjects in the Russian Federation. The adoption procedure will be completed after the ratification of international treaties and the adoption of the constitutional law by the Federation Council of the Russian Federation.

The issue of the accession of new republics and regions to Russia will be finally closed after the adoption of the Federal Constitutional Law on the Formation of New Subjects in the Russian Federation and the introduction of appropriate amendments to the Constitution. This will happen after the respective decisions are made by the lower and upper houses of parliament.

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.