MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Both houses of Russian parliament had approved the August 26, 2015, agreement this month. The agreement signed in Damascus regulates the terms of deployment of Russia's air group in Syria.
"The federal law ratifies the agreement between Russia and the Syrian Arab Republic on the deployment of the Russian Armed Forces aviation group on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the Kremlin's press service said.
It notes that the Russian air group is stationed at the Hmeymim airfield in the Latakia province free of charge at the request of Syria.
Under the agreement, Russian military personnel will gain immunity identical to that provided by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Russian troops will also not be subject to border checks when entering Syria.
Russia began its counterterrorist air campaign in Syria on September 30, 2015, at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
