The Protocol was signed in Moscow on October 20, 2016.
It provides for the termination of the above Agreement and Treaty as of January 1, 2017 and for returning the land and the movable and immovable property of the test ground to the Kazakhstani party in a serviceable state (less depreciation). Over 300,000 hectares of land will be returned to Kazakhstan.
This land is no longer used and will not be used by the Russian Federation in the future as test grounds for weapons or military hardware.
The transfer of the land and movable and immovable property of the test ground will be overseen by a joint commission.
The enforcement of the Protocol is fully in the interests of the Russian Federation and will streamline the Russian Defence Ministry’s test grounds in Kazakhstan and will allow the discontinuation of lease payments, thereby saving $718,000 in federal funds a year.