New relaxations are being prepared for Ukrainian citizens living in Russia. For those of them who would like to exchange their passport for a Russian one, it will be enough to renounce Ukrainian citizenship in writing. How will the implementation of such instructions turn out both for these people themselves and for the Russian state?

On Tuesday, the Russian press heatedly discussed the decision of State Duma deputies to once again grant Ukrainian citizens living in Russia a privileged status. The Lower House Committee on State Construction and Legislation decided to simplify the procedure for them to obtain Russian citizenship.

Unlike all other foreigners, Ukrainians in such cases will soon not need to present Russian officials with a certificate from the authorities of their country about the renunciation of their previous passport. It is enough not to actually refuse, but only to declare such a refusal. To do this, you just need to go to a notary and certify two copies of the application for renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship. One copy must be sent by mail to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the other copy must be brought to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs along with an application for a Russian passport.

This idea was first announced by LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky on July 5, when he was received by President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. In response, the president asked: “What if a person still has not renounced his citizenship?” The guest did not give a specific answer to this.

On Tuesday, the State Duma Committee on State Construction and Legislation supported amendments on the declarative procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship. Their co-authors were representatives of all Duma factions.

However, the committee itself does not understand the reasons for the excitement - after all, the amendment will affect only a narrow circle of those who apply for participation in the program for the resettlement of compatriots. " This procedure applies only to persons recognized as native speakers of the Russian language. That is, either he himself lives in the Russian Federation, or his ancestors lived in the USSR or in Russian Empire, but within the boundaries of the current Russian Federation. This means that a huge number of Ukrainians do not fall under this innovation. There is no need to fear a new influx,” committee member Sergei Ivanov (LDPR) explained to the newspaper VZGLYAD.

“The following scheme is proposed: citizens write a document in which they indicate that they renounce Ukrainian citizenship, this document is certified by a notary. One copy remains with the Migration Service of the Russian Federation, the other notarized copy is sent to Ukraine. This document will replace the certificate that needed to be obtained from Ukraine,” explained the head of the committee, Pavel Krasheninnikov, at the meeting. “In the Rostov region, we were told that hundreds of thousands of citizens cannot obtain certificates of renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship,” added Krasheninnikov.

The head of the main department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for migration issues, Olga Kirillova, said at the meeting that for the entire last year Only 156 people were able to renounce Ukrainian citizenship, and over the past few years - 25 thousand people. If since 2015, Kyiv, according to her, willingly agreed to renounce citizenship, now it is slowing down this process.

“On average, about a million people (citizens of Ukraine) entered the territory of Russia and did not leave; a million people are waiting for a decision,” the BBC Russian service quotes her. They are mainly located in major cities– in the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, she noted. Of these, 450 thousand applied for temporary residence status. And the rest cannot obtain citizenship, because either they do not have the opportunity to prove their status as a “native speaker” by collecting data about relatives, or the regions have not allocated a quota.

Deputy Sergei Ivanov asked how they will control that Ukrainians actually send their application to Kyiv. Kirillova replied that the department requires a postal receipt for sending the application.

However, it is obvious that Kyiv has now decided to ignore such statements, so formally such an applicant will still remain on the list of “independent” citizens.

In a conversation with the newspaper VZGLYAD, Ivanov did not rule out the possibility that some of the Ukrainians would try to secretly retain their former citizenship. “Of course, the affectionate body of two queens sucks. You can’t say that everyone will be crystal clear,” but that doesn’t scare him. “If we do not have an agreement on dual citizenship with another country, then we consider a person only as a citizen of Russia. We don't care whether he has another passport or not. But this is worse for him. If it turns out that he deceived, it means that he will lose his Russian citizenship.”

Ukrainian migrant workers interviewed by the newspaper VZGLYAD admitted that they are especially concerned about the fact that sending an application to Kyiv does not guarantee obtaining citizenship in Moscow. There is a risk - a Ukrainian, for example, renounced his old citizenship, but in the end did not receive a new one and turned into a stateless person, a person without a homeland.

“The overwhelming majority of Ukrainian citizens working in Russia will certainly try to retain their Ukrainian passport,” one of them, 25-year-old native of Kiev Alexey, now living in Moscow, predicts to the newspaper VZGLYAD. – It is unknown how the current crisis in our relations will be resolved, how this will affect ordinary Ukrainian citizens in Russia. In which legal status will they be there by then? But keeping a Ukrainian passport will allow you to return home if something happens and count, at least formally, on the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Ukraine.”

In addition, the Ukrainian “crust” increased in price after the introduction of visa-free Schengen. “Now a Ukrainian passport is a ticket to the EU, which is very important for migrant workers.” If things don’t work out for you at a construction site in Moscow, you can always go to Poland for strawberries,” explained Alexey. However, he admits that with such an attempt at deception, not everything will be simple, because “Kyiv will certainly take drastic measures against those who, while in Russia, expressed a desire to renounce Ukrainian citizenship.”

So, if such a Ukrainian returns home, serious troubles will certainly await him.

We draw your attention to the fact that the organizations ISIS, IS, OUN, UPA, UNA-UNSO, Right Sector, Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People are recognized as extremist and are banned on the territory of the Russian Federation.

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Renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship not allowed by lawU.A.. Ukrainian citizenship can be lost or renounced voluntarily. How to do it correctly , We'll tell you in the article.

How to renounce Ukrainian citizenship?

According to UA legislation, renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship impossible. You can either renounce citizenship yourself or lose citizenship.

If a citizen of Ukraine acquires citizenship of another country, arguing for this renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship, then this will not be a legally correct action. Moreover, an application to renounce Ukrainian citizenship will not be accepted by the embassy or consulate anyway.

If a person has accepted the citizenship of another country, then in relations with Ukraine he will still be its subject.

The procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship is exclusively voluntary, that is, all actions in the competent authorities will begin only when a citizen of Ukraine declares his decision to renounce citizenship. The state, in turn, expresses its consent in the absence of impeding circumstances.

Don't know your rights?

If a voluntary decision is made to renounce Ukrainian citizenship, then you must first follow the preliminary procedure for leaving for permanent residence, and after arriving in the country of permanent residence you must register with the Ukrainian consulate. If this condition is not met, in the future it will be possible to terminate Ukrainian citizenship only by directly visiting Ukraine.

Loss of Ukrainian citizenship is initiated by the state in the following cases:

• if a citizen who has reached the age of majority has become a subject of another state;
• if Ukrainian citizenship was acquired fraudulently;
• upon admission to military service, which is not mandatory or alternative, in another state

Procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship

If you decide to renounce your citizenship of Ukraine, then you need to contact the consulate or diplomatic mission of Ukraine in your country of residence. In addition to the application for in the prescribed form must be submitted:

• 2 photos;
• a copy of the Ukrainian international passport, which will have a stamp stating that you have left for permanent residence in another country;
• a document that can confirm that you have citizenship of another country or that you will soon receive this citizenship.

Within 1 month, the representative office or consulate sends all documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, which also reviews the submitted application within 1 month. If an error is found in the documents, they are returned to the applicant for revision. However, a citizen of Ukraine should hurry up: he has only 8 months to correct all shortcomings and resubmit documents.

Thus, it is possible to terminate Ukrainian citizenship only by renouncing it or losing citizenship. If the first option is purely voluntary, then the second is an initiative of the state represented by the competent authorities. Renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship current legislation not provided.

Just a week after the adoption of sensational changes to the citizenship law, allowing Ukrainians to renounce citizenship in a simplified manner, the State Duma adopted the law in the third reading. The law was submitted to the Federation Council and was approved by it. It will soon be signed by the President of the Russian Federation and will come into force on September 1 of this year.

HISTORY OF THE BILL

Bill No. 156692–7 was introduced into the State Duma on April 21 of this year by deputies-leaders of factions and other prominent parliamentarians. The original text of the bill provided only for cases in which citizenship decisions could be overturned. In other words, the purpose of the bill was “to legislate a norm aimed at the inadmissibility of obtaining Russian citizenship for the purpose of carrying out activities that pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation.” Persons convicted of terrorist activities could be deprived of Russian citizenship if they did not receive it by birth.

The bill, with minor comments, was supported by the Government of the Russian Federation and the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. If at first the public opinion was inclined to believe that it was unconstitutional to deprive people of citizenship, then the Public Chamber recognized a tricky legal construction with the annulment of the decision on granting citizenship in the corresponding part 3 of Article 6 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

By the second reading, the bill was significantly revised and supplemented. It introduced the oath of the person acquiring Russian citizenship and a simplified procedure for confirming the renunciation of citizenship for Ukrainian citizens. Since the idea to simplify the procedure for confirming the renunciation of citizenship, especially for Ukrainians, was born a long time ago and appeared in various bills - K. Zatulin, and in the project of Sergei Mironov (No. 159595–7). Mironov’s bill was submitted to the Duma a few days after the registration of project No. 156692–7; it is logical to assume that the deputies decided to include some popular ideas from Mironov’s project in their bill, which was not so clearly accepted by society. The difference between the texts of the draft for the second reading and after the third reading is not so great: only editorial changes, since the rules of the Duma require the adoption of significant amendments only at the stage of the second reading.

CITIZEN'S OATH

Adopted by the State Duma the law supplements the citizenship law with a new article 11.1. This article introduces a mandatory oath for persons acquiring Russian citizenship. The oath for foreigners receiving citizenship exists in a number of countries (Germany, Japan, Czech Republic, Singapore and others). The most well-known fact is that an oath is required for immigrants receiving US citizenship. Violating your oath as a US citizen may be grounds for revocation of citizenship. There was an oath for subjects in Tsarist Russia as well.

Having a citizen's oath can be assessed positively in general. But the model of the citizen's oath introduced by the new law raises criticism. First, this oath is only for those who acquire citizenship for certain reasons. Citizens of the Russian Federation by birth do not take the oath. Second, the oath design is intended primarily to circumvent the constitutional prohibition against deprivation of citizenship.

New law provides a list of persons who also do not take the oath. These are minors, incompetent and partially capable, disabled people who are unable to pronounce or sign an oath. The President, by his decision, may also exempt other persons from taking the oath. Determining the procedure for taking the oath also falls within the competence of the President of the Russian Federation.

It is not entirely clear why all minors are exempt from taking the oath. IN in full Legal capacity arises from the age of 18, but the obligation to obey the laws obviously arises earlier. For example, criminal liability For a number of crimes, including terrorism, the penalty begins at the age of 14. By general rule Administrative and criminal liability may apply to persons over 16 years of age.

The text of the oath is established by law. The emphasis in the oath is on the new citizen’s acceptance of obligations to comply with the Constitution and legislation of the Russian Federation. The duty of new citizens is also to protect the freedom and independence of Russia, to be loyal to Russia, to respect its culture, history and traditions.

All citizens of the Russian Federation and other people located on the territory of Russia are obliged to comply with the Constitution and laws of the Russian Federation. Respect for the culture, history and traditions of Russia is not a special responsibility of citizens of the Russian Federation - it is the responsibility of everyone who is in Russia. Article 44 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation obliges everyone to take care of the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, protect historical and cultural monuments. The constitutional duties of citizens of the Russian Federation include the defense of the Fatherland, the provision of the oath to protect the freedom of Russia in general outline corresponds to Article 59 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The law did not include proposals for the text of the oath, in which citizens were ordered to experience “indescribable delight that today I am a citizen of the greatest country on this earth.” The oath of allegiance in the Eastern style did not pass either: “And may my hands and feet wither if I ever go over to the side of the enemy. And may my tongue be dead if I ever say one bad word about Russia.” Our law enforcement agencies will take care of all this anyway.

REJECTION OF FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP

An important change concerns the simplified procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship by native speakers of the Russian language. The wording on the mandatory renunciation of existing foreign citizenship was clarified in relation to citizens of Ukraine: “The renunciation of a citizen of Ukraine from his existing citizenship of Ukraine is carried out by sending this citizen an application to renounce his existing citizenship of Ukraine to the authorized body of the given state. A document confirming the refusal of a citizen of Ukraine from his existing citizenship of Ukraine is a notarized copy of the application of this citizen about renouncing his existing Ukrainian citizenship.”

This norm is due to the fact that Ukrainian citizens did not receive any response to their renunciation of citizenship. Moreover, the state may not accept such a renunciation of citizenship, for example, if the citizen has not fulfilled his duties to the state (taxes have not been paid, has not served in the army), or is being prosecuted by the state, or does not have any other citizenship.

At the same time, it remains unclear what is meant in the other wording of this paragraph, which is in the current and new editions. The point is that “renunciation of citizenship of a foreign state is not required... if renunciation of citizenship of a foreign state is impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the person.” Why the situation in which some Ukrainian citizens found themselves could not be considered to fall under this clause is still unclear. In theory, this was exactly the case when Ukrainians could not renounce citizenship due to reasons beyond their control. That is, if one wanted, one could in practice interpret this provision of the law exactly this way, and not wait three years for the adoption of this law. It was also possible, if desired, to immediately register this norm in 2014, taking into account the current situation in Ukraine.

Such a norm, adopted in the interests of citizens of Ukraine, looks rather strange, because this moment in the law on citizenship of the Russian Federation there is no mention of any other country other than Russia. Special legal regulation in the interests of citizens of a particular foreign state is not at all typical for Russian laws, in particular, this is due to the constitutional requirement of equality. Obviously, if there was political will, the issue of preferences for citizens of Ukraine could have been resolved back in 2014 at the level of a by-law, taking advantage of the possibilities of interpreting the wording in force at that time.

The impossibility of renouncing citizenship for reasons beyond the control of the applicant also had to be justified. In practice, such reasons were recognized: the decision of the competent authority to refuse renunciation of citizenship, the impossibility of renouncing citizenship under the legislation of this state, in some cases - the lack of a response from the state to a citizen’s application for renunciation of citizenship. The new law may put an end to this issue. The new law provides for changes to the law on legal status foreigners, according to which the Government of the Russian Federation must determine a list of reasons entailing the impossibility of a person renouncing his existing citizenship of a foreign state. It is interesting that this authority is given to the Government of the Russian Federation in the context of the article on the ban on being on state or municipal service persons with dual citizenship.

The new wording on confirmation of refusal also raises questions. In particular, it is unclear why a notarized copy of a citizen’s application to renounce his existing Ukrainian citizenship is needed. The fact that a citizen wrote an application to renounce citizenship and certified a copy of the application does not yet confirm the fact that the application was sent to the appropriate authority. It would be logical to notarize the citizen’s signature on the application so that the competent authorities have no doubt that this application was drawn up and signed by the citizen himself. It would also be logical to require documents confirming the sending of this application to the competent authority: a postal receipt, a list of attachments, and, if available, a receipt. This creates a strange situation in which, formally, a foreign citizen can write an application to renounce citizenship, have its copy certified by a notary, and not send it to the authorities of his state, because no one is obliged to check the fact of sending it. Formally, legally, if the application is not sent, then the renunciation of citizenship has not occurred. That is why the procedure for confirming the sending of an application should be clarified, for example, by by-law.

Let’s assume that a citizen draws up such an application, submits the application and its notarized copy along with other documents to the Migration Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs itself forwards the citizen’s application to the appropriate authority. Then the fact of sending would not require additional confirmation.

CANCELLATION OF DECISIONS ON CITIZENSHIP IS NOT DEPRIVATION OF CITIZENSHIP

Article 22 of the law on citizenship exists in the current version of the law and is called “Grounds for the cancellation of decisions on issues of citizenship of the Russian Federation”, in new edition the name is retained. Current edition contains very vague language regarding the revocation of citizenship decisions. Currently, there are two grounds for canceling a decision to acquire citizenship: the applicant provides false documents, knowingly submits false information. To cancel decisions on citizenship, the facts of submission of false information or documents must be established by the court.

The new law supplements this list of grounds with one more: refusal to take the Oath of Citizenship. A special case is the acquisition of Russian citizenship for the purpose of carrying out activities that pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, as well as the communication of knowingly false information regarding the obligation to comply with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the Russian Federation.

One of the options for judicial establishment of such a fact is the presence of a sentence that has entered into force for committing crimes, provided for in articles 205, 205.1, part two of article 205.2, articles 205.3–205.5, 206, 208, part four of article 211, articles 281, 282.1–282.3 and 361 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (all these are crimes of a terrorist and extremist nature). As noted above, the commission of such crimes is a special case of reporting knowingly false information regarding the obligation to comply with the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the legislation of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, the law contains a clause stating that if a bad person was accepted into Russian citizenship along with his wife (husband) and children, and family members were not noticed in terrorism and extremism, then they remain citizens of the Russian Federation.

The law also provides for a mechanism for informing the Ministry of Internal Affairs about relevant sentences. Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code to add to the list of bodies to which a court conviction can be sent have also already been adopted by the Duma and approved by the Federation Council.

De jure cancellation of a decision on citizenship and deprivation of citizenship are completely different things. The cancellation of a decision to acquire citizenship, as well as the cancellation (not invalidation) of any other decision, means that such a decision would never have existed. In other words, the cancellation of a decision means that this decision did not entail any legal consequences. If such legal consequences have actually already occurred (for example, a citizen has been assigned a pension), then these consequences are also nullified (the pension is canceled, and everything paid must be returned). It is obvious that the cancellation of the decision to acquire citizenship can only affect those who did not receive citizenship by birth. Deprivation of citizenship could affect any citizen, even a citizen by birth. Deprivation of Russian citizenship is prohibited by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. The European Convention on Nationality lists the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of citizenship as one of its principles.

It can be assumed that, for example, the European Court of Human Rights would interpret our term “cancellation of a decision to acquire citizenship” quite broadly and equate it to deprivation of citizenship if such a case reached the ECHR. Moreover, a person left without Russian citizenship in this way would possibly become a stateless person, which is also not welcomed by the Convention. In general, the status of such persons is currently unclear. Probably, for such a “former” citizen (although formally legally he will be neither a current nor a former citizen of the Russian Federation), the general migration rules for foreigners will apply. Such a person will definitely never receive Russian citizenship. He can be sent outside the Russian Federation if he violates migration rules. But the question is: where should he be sent if he renounced his citizenship? Refusal of citizenship is not annulled. Of course, there is a possibility that the refusal was not accepted by the foreign state. It is not clear how such a person will have his old foreign passport returned.

Current order cancellation of decisions on citizenship (Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated November 14, 2002 No. 1325) provides for the following option: when the decision to acquire Russian citizenship is canceled, a person residing on the territory of the Russian Federation is issued a residence permit for a stateless person or a residence permit foreign citizen. That is, according to the current rules, such a person is not automatically expelled from the Russian Federation, and a residence permit gives him the right to stay in Russia for 5 years. The residence permit can then be renewed several times. However, the migration authorities may not renew the residence permit; more precisely, in the case of terrorist or extremist crimes, they will be obliged to cancel the residence permit. In addition, it must be taken into account that for crimes as a result of which a person will lose Russian citizenship, he will serve his sentence in Russia (this could also be long terms imprisonment). And when this person is released, the residence permit will either be canceled or expired.

The current version of the law on the status of foreigners (Article 9) states that a residence permit is not issued, and a previously issued residence permit is canceled if the foreigner:

Advocates forcible changes in the foundations of the constitutional system of the Russian Federation, and by other actions creates a threat to the security of the Russian Federation or citizens of the Russian Federation;

Finances, plans terrorist (extremist) acts, assists in the commission of such acts or commits them, as well as through other actions supports terrorist (extremist) activities;

Convicted by a court verdict that has entered into legal force for committing a grave or especially grave crime or a crime the relapse of which is recognized as dangerous;

Has an outstanding or unexpunged conviction for committing a grave or especially grave crime on the territory of the Russian Federation or abroad, recognized as such in accordance with federal law.

This means that if the decision to acquire citizenship is canceled in relation to a person who has committed terrorist or extremist crimes, such a person cannot obtain a residence permit. And in general, the path to obtaining legal grounds for being in Russia (temporary stay or residence permit, residence permit) will be closed to him. What to do with such a person if, for example, he is stateless?

Thus, this aspect of the implementation of the new law in practice does not seem to have been worked out.

CONCLUSIONS

1. The main purpose of the law is to introduce additional grounds for canceling decisions on acquiring Russian citizenship. Other innovations, such as the citizen's oath, serve only this purpose. Essentially, this is another anti-terrorism law, and one of its authors is Irina Yarovaya.

2. The appearance in the law of a norm on a simplified procedure for renouncing Ukrainian citizenship for native speakers of the Russian language can be considered accidental, and to some extent, a populist measure. This rule will come into effect in September 2017, closer to the presidential elections.

3. If the authorities really had a goal to help Ukrainian citizens confirm their renunciation of citizenship, it would have been possible to interpret the law back in 2014 in such a way that in their case “renunciation of citizenship of a foreign state is impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the person.” However, in general, we must admit that the law allows us to get rid of one more, albeit small, bureaucratic obstacle, but only for Ukrainians. Although the new wording on confirmation of renunciation of citizenship also needs clarification.

4. Some provisions of the law raise questions about how they will be applied in practice. In particular, this concerns the future fate of terrorists and extremists who have lost their Russian citizenship and have no other citizenship. It’s not that we are very concerned about their fate, but it is obvious that in Russia, to put it mildly, they will not be welcome. It is clear that they will serve their prison term in Russia. But the lack of legal grounds for their further stay in Russia raises the question of the need for their expulsion from the Russian Federation. In this regard, the decree of the President of the Russian Federation on the procedure for considering citizenship issues also needs to be adjusted.

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There are many Russians who have Ukrainian citizenship. However, recent events and conflicts have forced such people to return home. Therefore, the issue of renouncing Ukrainian citizenship has become more relevant than ever. In addition, the State Duma even adopted a bill that made the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship in Russia 2018 much easier. There are now almost no bureaucratic barriers, and completing all the documents has become much easier.

It is also worth saying that a considerable number of Ukrainians travel to Russia for personal reasons. Some people like the quality of life better, while others have better jobs here. Foreign Ministry representatives say that at the beginning of 2017, the number of Ukrainians in Russia amounted to more than two million. Almost half of this number are residents who also yearn to become citizens of the Russian Federation.

Obtaining and renouncing citizenship

Citizenship implies that the individual and the state have mutual rights and obligations. Citizenship can be obtained in several ways. You become a citizen of a country if you were born in it or went through the process of obtaining a passport as a citizen of that country. But you can lose citizenship in the following cases:

• if you received it through some kind of fraud or illegal means;
• if you have a bad attitude towards the structure of the country and the policies of its authorities, and also openly express this;
• if you have been caught spying;
• in the case when you serve in the Aryans and troops of other countries;
• on your own initiative, by writing a corresponding refusal.

It is worth saying that just recently not everyone could get it. Many factors prevented this. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia hope that soon the situation will radically change and everyone will be able to move to the Russian Federation for permanent residence. We must not forget about the oath, which concerns the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship in Russia in 2018; news suggests that deputies have already managed to develop a new oath for newly minted Russians.

What kind of oath is this?

According to the legislation, as well as the resolutions that were adopted by the State Duma, people who receive citizenship will have to take a special oath.

Of course, the oath will oblige you to adhere to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and not violate it. There will also be an additional emphasis on human rights and freedoms, protection of Russia’s sovereignty, preservation of cultural heritage sites, monuments, and historical sites. People reading the oath will need to be aware of its importance, as well as the responsibility that rests with them.

This new text, which was invented, as well as a sample of renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship in Russia in 2018, can already be found on the Internet.

Each source, of course, provides its own data, but on average it is indicated that more than five million Ukrainians live and work in the Russian Federation.

As the political and armed conflict continues to gain momentum, many Ukrainians are trying to obtain a passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation as soon as possible, but this process still remains a unique problem. First of all, we need to figure out how people most often acquire citizenship:

• when marrying a person who is already a resident of the Russian Federation;
• you can also count on citizenship if you have parents or close relatives who are citizens of Russia;
• Citizenship is also granted to those born on the territory of that country.

Of course, getting the long-awaited passport is not as easy as we would like. This all takes a lot of time and sometimes you have to wait too long. Most often, people obtain citizenship through marriage. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this case does not hand out passports just like that. Thorough checks and monitoring are carried out, and newly-made spouses have to bring a lot of certificates, in addition to a huge package of documents.

How does the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship proceed?

It is important to know how to renounce Ukrainian citizenship in Russia 2018, since this is one of the prerequisites for obtaining a new passport. It’s safe to say that this matter is also quite troublesome. First, you need a written application, a copy of your passport and a couple more documents that will be sent to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Based on the application, a decree will be issued and given to the president for signature.

However, the process of refusal does not end there. You need to get a certificate from the SBU, which will say that this structure does not have any claims against you. It is also necessary to submit a declaration of income to the appropriate authority. Do not forget about loans and all kinds of debts that are obligatory for repayment. A certificate from the SBU is a very important document, because security forces can refuse a person to obtain citizenship of another country for separatist calls and other actions against Ukraine.

There are many nuances in this entire procedure, and both sides quite often adopt new projects and laws, which significantly affects the procedure for obtaining and renouncing citizenship.

What to expect soon?

First of all, you should pay attention to the unstable political situation. At the moment, Ukraine wants to introduce enhanced border control and a visa regime with the Russian Federation. In the wake of such changes, other laws may be adopted, which will certainly affect the process of renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship. Therefore, it is difficult to say what the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship in Russia in 2018 may look like in the near future; the law may radically change everything.

But in Russia, on the contrary, they are quite loyal to all this. It is worth saying that the Russian Federation has long provided many Ukrainian citizens with the opportunity to obtain Russian passports under a simplified scheme. At the moment, the Russian Foreign Ministry plans to apply such a scheme to all residents of Ukraine, which will allow them to easily and quickly change citizenship.