Minsk: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has officially signed a decree allowing Belarusian citizens who reside permanently in Russia to participate in local elections there.

According to Anadolu Agency, the presidential decree approves a draft protocol to amend a 1998 treaty between Moscow and Minsk concerning the equal rights of their citizens. This amendment grants Belarusian residents in Russia the ability to both vote and run for positions in local self-government bodies, aligning their rights with those of Russian citizens residing in Belarus, who already possess such electoral privileges.

The decree is described as a significant step in ensuring equal electoral rights for citizens of both nations. Previously, Belarusians living in Russia were unable to partake in local elections. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has been tasked with negotiating and signing the draft protocol to solidify these changes.

This development is part of ongoing efforts by Russia and Belarus to strengthen their union state, a process that has gained momentum in recent years, reflecting deeper integration between the two nations.