Poroshenko’s policy will lead to mass acquisition of Russian citizenship by Ukrainians, – experts

20:50 / 13 Jul. 2017 / 1523

Donbas residents and Ukrainian citizens, who live and work in Russia, will receive Russian citizenship in the near future. Such forecast was made by experts of the “Restoring Donbas” community initiative of Oleksandr Klymenko.

Representatives of organization remind that on July 10, President Poroshenko announced the introduction of biometric control for all foreigners, who cross the state border, including Russian citizens. Announcing the retaliatory actions in terms of Ukrainian migrants, Russia chose an asymmetric and more serious step with severe consequences. It comes about simplifying the process of acquisition of citizenship and residence permits in Russia for Ukrainian citizens.

Under the usual procedure of acquisition of Russian citizenship, the applicant must have a residence permit in Russia, and to reside in the country during the last five years. According to experts, new provisions will significantly shorten this procedure for Ukrainians.

“The State Duma annulled the main obstacles to acquisition of Russian citizenship by Ukrainians. Nowadays, according to our estimates, any Ukrainian can get a Russian passport during the six months. Thus, it comes about simplifying of the procedure by 10 times”, – Ekaterina Mukhina, volunteer of the “Restoring Donbas” community initiative, stated.

Representatives of the initiative draws special attention to the fact that Donbas residents (including the uncontrolled territories) will be able to take advantage of this shorten procedure. Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Donbas, who moved to Russia after the beginning of hostilities, will also use this new opportunity.

Moreover, according to representatives of the “Restoring Donbas”, growing difficulties in crossing the Ukrainian-Russian border will encourage millions of Ukrainians to receive citizenship of the Russian Federation. According to various estimates, number of Ukrainians, who moved to Russia searching for earnings, has reached nearly 3 million people. Thus, in general, it comes about at least 5 million Ukrainians, who are ready to refuse from Ukrainian citizenship and leave their country due to the policy of the current government of Poroshenko.

“During the coming year, all Ukrainians, who want to receive Russian citizenship, including Donbas residents, will be able to do this, even without cooperation with state authorities of Ukraine”, – Mukhina concluded. According to her estimates, Ukrainian authorities are not going to prevent such course of events. Moreover, they will facilitate it due to the fact that they are interested in reducing the number of Ukrainian citizens.

Let us recall, on July 12, the State Duma of the Russian Federation supported amendments that simplify the process of acquisition of Russian citizenship and residence permits in Russia for Ukrainian citizens. Nowadays, it will be enough for Ukrainians to sign an application for renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship. At the same time, it will not be required to provide an appropriate certificate from the authorized bodies of Ukraine. The same procedure is provided for Ukrainians, who want to receive a residence permit in Russia.

The “Restoring Donbas” community initiative was founded in November 2014 by Oleksandr Klymenko, Ukrainian politician and the leader of the “Uspishna Kraina” party. Nowadays, the initiative unites 120 thousand people via its projects and online-activity. Members of the initiative work together in order to find ways out of the crisis caused by the military conflict, and paths for subsequent development of the region. Moreover, they carry out an expert work on Donbas problems and provide IDPs and Donbas residents with support and required assistance.

Photo: rian.com.ua

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