Question Period Note: Russian Duma's vote recommending recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk peoples' republics

On February 15, 2022, the Russian State Duma voted to ask President Vladimir Putin to recognize the so-called republics of Donetsk (DPR) and Luhansk (LPR).

• Canada strongly condemns the Russian Duma's vote seeking recognition of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics.
• This is a clear violation of the Minsk agreements and a blatant attempt to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Canada remains committed to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
• Canada continues to be deeply concerned about Russia's ongoing destabilizing activities in Ukraine.
• We also denounce Russia's use of disinformation and malicious cyber activity.

On January 19, 2022, a draft law was registered in the State Duma to recognise the independence of the “DPR” and “LPR” in eastern Ukraine. This initiative is not the first attempt to give official recognition to these regions. Since 2014, various factions of the State Duma either launched campaigns to collect signatures in support of recognizing these territories or included them in party platforms.

In 2017, President Putin signed a decree recognizing the validity of certain documents issued by the Russia-backed self-appointed so-called authorities in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Recently, the Russian government eased customs and procurement procedures for goods produced in these regions to be sold in Russia. The State Duma reviewed and decided on two competing appeals on official recognition of the so-called republics on February 15, 2022. The first version, proposed by the Communist Party, requested that the appeal be sent to the President immediately. The other version supported by the ruling United Russia Party recommended that it first be sent for review to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence.

The State Duma approved the first option: immediate appeal to the President. However, as Leonid Kalashnikov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, stated the text of the appeal to the President does not imply automatic recognition of the DPR and LPR, as this is not within the mandate of Parliament. President Putin reportedly distanced himself from these initiatives during a recent meeting in Moscow with French President Macron, and declined to comment directly on the decision in a press availability with German Chancellor Scholz in Moscow after the vote.

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