Putin signs decree allowing deportation of Ukrainians from temporarily occupied territories

The document was published on the official portal of legal information of the Russian Federation, Ukrinform reports.

The decree stipulates that citizens of Ukraine or holders of "passports" of the puppet formations "DPR" and "LPR" must either become Russian citizens or declare that they do not wish to do so. Those who choose the second option will be considered foreigners from July 1, 2024 and, accordingly, may be deported.

A separate clause of the decree concerns the deportation of those who pose a threat to the "national security of Russia." Residents of the temporarily occupied territories who support "forcible change of the foundations of the constitutional order" in Russia, finance terrorist and extremist activities or participate in "unauthorized" actions will be deported and banned from entering the Russian Federation.

As reported, on March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian president Vladimir Putin and Russian president's commissioner for children's rights Maria Lvova-Belova who are suspected of unlawful deportation of children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia since at least February 2022.