Putin ratified the agreement on the placement of the Russian air group in Syria

President Vladimir Putin signed the Federal Law "On ratification of an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic on the deployment of the Aviation Group of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Syrian Arab Republic." This is reported by Interfax, referring to the Kremlin press service.

On the eve of the agreement ratified the Federation Council. 158 members of the upper house voted for such a decision, one refrained.

The document regulates the conditions of the unlimited location of the Russian air group in Syria. It is clarified that it is located on the territory of the republic at the request of the Syrian side and is deployed at the Khmeimim airfield to the Latakia Province, which, together with its infrastructure and territory, is provided for use of the Russian side on a free basis.

The document establishes an agreement that weapons, ammunition and equipment are imported into Syria without levying any fees and duties, and the personnel of the Russian air group "without hindrance crosses the border of Syria and is not subject to inspection by the border and customs authorities of the Syrian side."

The personnel of the Russian air group and their families are provided with immunities and privileges similar to diplomatic. Transport and aircraft used in the interests of the Russian aircraft groups "enjoy immunity from inspection, search, requisition, arrest and other forced measures."

In addition, it is established that the Syrian side does not make any complaints of Russia, its air group and its personnel and does not arouse any claims against them in connection with their activities.

The agreement is concluded for the unlimited period and terminates after one year from the date of receipt of notification of one of the parties about the intention to terminate this document.

It is clarified that the implementation of the agreement will not require additional injections from the federal budget - financing will be carried out within the limits of the funds allocated by the Ministry of Defense from the budget for the corresponding year.

The State Duma on October 7 ratified the agreement on the unlimited placement of the Russian aviation group in Syria. The document was signed on August 26, 2015 in Damascus, and on August 9, 2016 it was transferred to Putin for consideration by the State Duma.

On October 10, it became known that Russia intends to place a naval base in Syrian Tartus on an ongoing basis. "The relevant documents have been prepared, they undergo interdepartmental approval procedures. The degree of readiness is quite high, and we hope that we will soon ask you to ratify these documents," said the deputy minister of defense Nikolai Pankov. Now in Tartus there is a material and technical support point for Russian ships.