Ukraine to Recognize Some Documents Issued by Occupation Authorities in Donbas

A special commission will handle the recognition of documents issued in the "LPR/DPR".

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has decided to simplify the registration of births and deaths in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

This was reported on Thursday, 24 October, by the press service of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government is introducing a mechanism to confirm the authenticity of medical certificates issued in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas by the relevant healthcare and forensic medical institutions, under the Namibia exception principle.

Under this principle, formulated by the International Court of Justice in connection with South Africa's occupation of Namibia, certain documents issued by occupying authorities may be taken into account to protect fundamental human rights.

"The fact that the relevant documents are taken into account does not in any way mean recognition of the occupying authority," explained Ukrainian Justice Minister Denys Maliuska. "For us it is important to fill with real substance the provisions of the Constitution of Ukraine under which a person is recognised as the highest value, and the state is accountable to the person for its activities."

Questions about confirmation by Ukrainian authorities of births and deaths in occupied territories will now be considered by a specially created commission.

Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine created a temporary special commission on the formation and implementation of state policy on restoring the territorial integrity and ensuring the sovereignty of Ukraine.