State Duma ratifies protocol on Russian aircraft deployment in Syria
MOSCOW. July 14 (Interfax) - The State Duma on Friday ratified a protocol to the Russian-Syrian agreement on the deployment of Russian aircraft in Syria dated August 26, 2015.
The protocol was signed in Damascus in January 2017.
It regulates the deployment of a task force of the Russian Aerospace Forces and deals with the task force's movable and immovable property and day-to-day operations.
The protocol prescribes that Syrian forces will protect the perimeter of Russian military compounds, in addition to the coastline of the naval logistics and maintenance center, while air defense, security of the premises, and law and order in Russian military compounds will be the Russian prerogative.
The agreement on the deployment of Russian aircraft in Syria was signed for a period of 49 years.
Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov presented the document to State Duma members.
"The protocol describes the procedure for movement of ground forces, armaments and hardware," State Duma foreign affairs committee head Leonid Slutsky told reporters. "This is a very important document from the angle of international law," he said.
