[RFE/RL] The self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic says it will start issuing passports to residents in areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.The Luhansk militants' "Council of Ministers" said it signed a regulation permitting the entity to begin handing out passports. The passports will be in Russian and available to people 16 years of age or older. The regulation comes into force on April 21.
The rebel entity also announced that it had opened its own bank and began paying pensions in Russian rubles.