Putin transferred the decision of most questions about citizenship to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decreeaccording to which the head of state is in charge only of granting citizenship on an exceptional basis; otherwise, issues of granting citizenship are transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Also approved new provisions on the procedure for taking the oath of Russian citizenship. In addition, Vladimir Putin’s decree also approves other documents, forms, etc., related to citizenship. Previous presidential regulations that were in force before the adoption of the new citizenship law are no longer in force. At the same time, the text of the oath of a citizen of the Russian Federation itself has not changed.

The new citizenship law, adopted at the initiative of Vladimir Putin, came into force in Russia on October 26, 2023. The document provides for a reduction in the number of requirements for admission to Russian citizenship for more than 20 categories of persons. In particular, it provides for the possibility of simplified receipt of a Russian passport by foreigners who have entered into a contract for service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation for at least a year. The law introduces the institution of termination of Russian citizenship instead of canceling decisions on admission to citizenship. Thus, citizenship can be terminated if actions are taken that pose a threat to the national security of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the possibility of terminating Russian citizenship acquired by birth is not allowed.

Alexander Kislov