KIEV, Oct. 8 – President Petro Poroshenko has signed a law which states that February 20, 2014 was the beginning of the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, the president's website has reported.

The law amends the previous laws "On ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens in a legal regime in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine", "On the creation of a free trade zone 'Crimea'" and "On the peculiarities of conducting economic activity in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine" to set a definitive date of the beginning of temporary occupation and bring the aforementioned acts in line international legal norms to protect the rights of the state, citizens and legal entities.