The Duma ratified the agreement on dual citizenship with Abkhazia

The deputies of the State Duma adopted bill on the ratification of the agreement between Russia and Abkhazia on the settlement of issues of dual citizenship.

This agreement was signed on September 27, 2022 by the foreign ministers of the two countries, Sergei Lavrov and Inal Ardzinba. The Abkhaz side ratified it already in December of the same year. Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted the agreement for ratification on May 31.

According to the agreement, citizens of one side will be able to acquire the citizenship of the other without renouncing the citizenship of their own state. At the same time, Russia provides citizens (as of August 26, 2008 and who have not lost their citizenship) of Abkhazia from 18 years of age with the right to obtain citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner.

A person who has citizenship of both countries enjoys social rights, and also serves in the army on conscription in the territory of the party in whose territory he permanently resides. Having completed compulsory military service, for example, in Abkhazia, it will no longer be necessary to pass it again in the ranks of the RF Armed Forces.

The agreement will enter into force from the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification by the parties.

Earlier, on June 17, a law came into force, according to which Russian citizens with a Ukrainian passport will be able to withdraw from Ukrainian citizenship by submitting an appropriate application. From the moment the application is submitted, the Russian will be considered not to have Ukrainian citizenship and undertakes to refrain from exercising the rights and fulfilling the duties of a citizen of Ukraine, including from obtaining and using a Ukrainian passport.