A bill was introduced to the Duma to recognize common-law wives of deceased SVO participants as widows

The State Duma will consider a bill recognizing common-law wives of deceased SVO participants as widows

It has been proposed in Russia to recognize the common-law wives of deceased participants in a special military operation as widows. The corresponding bill was submitted for consideration to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, said First Vice-Speaker of the Federation Council Andrei Turchak.

According to him, in addition, the document provides for the extension of benefits to common-law wives, subject to certain conditions. Commenting on the initiative, Turchak said that this bill will protect the interests of the “actual” families of the dead and missing participants of the SVO.

“We are talking about relationships that were not formalized in the registry office before the SVO, but where in fact the serviceman served as a spouse and breadwinner,” the vice-speaker of the Federation Council wrote in his Telegram channel.

Thus, if a man and a woman lived together for at least three years (or at least one year if they had a common child) and ran a joint household, then this relationship in the event of the death of a participant in the SVO can be recognized as a marriage through the court in a special proceeding.

After the court’s decision, the woman will receive the right to be an heir, as well as to enjoy the benefits provided by law.

Turchak clarified that the law will have retroactive effect, that is, it will apply to relationships that arose before its adoption.