On May 10, 2019, Anatoly Bibilov, de facto President of Tskhinvali Region visited Donetsk to celebrate the 5th anniversary of declaration of independence of self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic. The delegation of Bibilov comprised of Dmitry Medoyev, de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ibragim Gasseyev, de facto Minister of Defence, and others. In Donetsk, Republic Day was celebrated on May 11. On the same day in 2014, illegitimate referendum was held which was followed by declaration of independence. During the visit in Donetsk, Bibilov received the Order of the Republic from Denis Pushilin, self-proclaimed Leader of Donetsk.

On May 12, Bibilov visited self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic for the same reason. During the visit in Lugansk de facto Ministers of Foreign Affairs of two separatist Republics signed agreement on establishing diplomatic relations. Before that, de facto ლeaders of  Tskhinvali Region and Lugansk exchanged Instruments of Ratification of the agreement on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance, signed back in 2018.