According to the political scientist, this decision can be considered natural.
“There are objective reasons for this... One reason is that the people who live there are experiencing serious difficulties... The second reason is that there is a real threat from the Armed Forces of Ukraine that are shelling,” the expert said .
Such a decision is completely logical, Olenchenko believes.
“If we didn’t recognize it, then, probably, the Ukrainian authorities, the current Ukrainian regime, would feel unpunished,” the specialist added.
He stressed that in this situation, Russia followed all the norms of international law.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin signed decrees on Russia's recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics.