“There was a nightclub, it was converted into FMS.” How and where residents of the “DPR” and “LPR” receive Russian passports, the story of a “new Russian woman” from Lugansk

The main document that certifies the identity of a citizen of any state is a passport. The DPR in 2021, and the LPR in 2014, legislatively approved their own forms of documents. Due to the special status of these regions, residents had problems crossing borders with other countries, since the Ukrainian ID was no longer valid. In order for residents of the republics to acquire legal status and receive social services, it was necessary to introduce into official use the passport of a citizen of the DPR.

What you need to know about the legal status of the DPR and LPR

Since 2021, on the basis of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, documents issued by government bodies of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics have been recognized as valid throughout the entire territory of the state. This temporary measure was adopted until the political situation between the republics and the government of Ukraine is completely normalized, since social obligations to the residents of Donbass are not respected. In the Decree, the DPR and LPR are called regions of Ukraine, which confirms Russia’s recognition of its territorial integrity.

In addition to passports, the following documents are valid in the Russian Federation:

• certificates of registration and termination of marriage;
• birth and death certificates;
• diplomas from educational institutions;
• registration marks, as well as vehicle documentation.

A driver's license obtained in Ukraine and regions with a special status is not valid in the Russian Federation.

Now residents of the DPR and LPR can freely cross the border, study at Russian universities, and get a job.

Required documents

The list of documents for obtaining Russian citizenship may differ depending on the grounds and status of the candidate.

The standard list that residents of Donbass should prepare is as follows:

– Application completed in duplicate.

– Photo 3 pcs., size 3x4 cm.

- Passport.

– RVP/residence permit.

– Documents confirming education.

– Marriage documents, child’s birth certificate (if available).

– Medical certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.

– Application confirming the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship.

– Receipt confirming payment of the state duty (3500 rubles).

Documents for obtaining Russian citizenship must be translated into Russian and notarized.

The following documents are required for children:

– Application in two copies from parents, guardians/trustees.

– Child’s passport and (or) birth certificate indicating citizenship.

– Notarized consent of the child (from 14 to 18 years old).

– Photo of the child 3 pieces, size 3x4 cm.

Features of the passport

The leadership of the Donetsk People's Republic explains the need to produce documents for its citizens by the actions of the Ukrainian government to replace ordinary passports with biometric ones. Due to the current situation, residents of the DPR and LPR do not have the opportunity to obtain them, and they will actually be left without documents. In addition, in the regions, many residents’ passports were lost or destroyed during military events, or must be replaced due to the expiration of their validity.

Therefore, in 2021, the DPR authorities finally began producing new documents, although the LPR began issuing them to citizens back in 2014. However, DPR and LPR passports are not recognized as official identity cards in Ukraine.

How to apply and to whom it will be issued in 2020

The DPR authorities recognize as citizens everyone who has lived in the Donetsk region since April 2014. Persons with a Ukrainian passport who had a registration in the DPR or who lived in the territory of the republic at that time have the opportunity to receive the document. The very fact of being in the Donetsk or Lugansk region must be proven in court. The following can be provided as supporting arguments:

• certificates from organizations in which he worked;
• diploma of education in educational institutions of these areas;
• extracts from medical institutions;
• witness statements.

It must be borne in mind that work in the DPR cannot be the basis for an individual procedure for obtaining a passport; this right is granted only to employees.

Required documents

To obtain an identity card, the applicant must present certain originals.

1. Application form for citizenship. Those who receive a passport for the first time fill out a special form.
2. Certificate of birth and registration at residential address
3. 4 color photographs, size 35x45 mm.
4. Birth certificates for children, marriage or divorce.
5. For military personnel, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and employees of government agencies, a certificate from the place of service is required.
6. Document confirming payment of the fee. In the DPR the state duty is 250 rubles, in the LPR – 80, but in the LPR they pay 490 rubles. for registration.

If entries in documents are made in Ukrainian or a foreign language, it is necessary to prepare their Russian translation, certified by a notary. If the right to obtain citizenship is established through the court, a corresponding decision is attached to the application.

For residents of the DPR

Persons living in the republic must first photocopy documents to obtain an identity card. In addition, a certificate of TIN assignment must be attached to the kit for a special mark. In the LPR, this information is provided upon request.

For residents of the LPR

What documents are needed to obtain a passport of a citizen of the LPR should be clarified on the website of the republican Ministry of Internal Affairs. It contains information about options for registration and issuance of a certificate, a sample of filling out an application, and you can download the necessary forms.

Where to contact

To obtain a citizen's passport, you must come with all the documents to the passport office. In the DPR, the migration service at the applicant’s address is authorized to issue an identity card.

Step-by-step instructions for obtaining a document

Information on how to obtain a DPR citizen passport in 2021 can be clarified at the local department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; in large cities they operate in every district. The registration procedure consists of several steps.

1. Prepare a set of all required documents.
2. Contact the migration department at your place of residence.
3. Obtain a certificate, which is issued for the period of production of the document.
4. Pick up your passport.

The officially established processing time is 1 month. If a passport is being made to replace a lost or destroyed one, the period may increase to 60 days for additional verification of the applicant's information.

In the LPR, when a citizen reaches 25 and 45 years of age, the identity card is not exchanged, but a new photograph is simply pasted on the corresponding page.

Who may be denied

The laws of the DPR and LPR define the following circumstances that are reasons for refusing to issue a passport:

• a threat to the security of the republics from the applicant for citizenship, opposition to the existing system;
• service in the Security Service of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other government bodies of Ukraine;
• concealment or distortion of personal information;
• outstanding criminal record;
• committing a crime on the territory of the republics.

Re-applying for a document after refusal is not allowed.

The following have the right to issue a certificate valid for up to 4 years:

• citizens of Ukraine who were registered at the place of residence in other regions of Ukraine as of April 7, 2014, who arrived in the territory of the Republic for permanent residence upon presentation of documents confirming citizenship of Ukraine and residence in other regions of Ukraine as of April 7, 2014;
• persons in respect of whom an identification procedure was carried out and their citizenship of any state was not confirmed (including those who have/had a passport of the former USSR), in the presence of a court decision confirming the fact of residence in the territory of the DPR as of April 7, 2014 ;
• Foreign citizens, stateless persons or persons who cannot confirm citizenship of any state who arrived in the territory of the DPR for permanent residence on April 7, 2014, namely:

1. those born in the Donetsk region of Ukraine and their family members (parents, husband (wife), minor children);
2. those recognized as disabled and having a capable son or daughter - citizens of the DPR;
3. having at least one disabled parent - a citizen of the Donetsk People's Republic;
4. married to a citizen of the DPR;
5. having a child born and permanently residing in the DPR;
6. having an adult son or daughter who is a citizen of the DPR and has been declared incompetent or limited in capacity by a court decision;
7. being a guardian or trustee of a citizen of the DPR or being under the guardianship or trusteeship of a citizen of the DPR;
8. owners/co-owners of residential real estate registered in the territory controlled by the DPR.

Does Russia recognize DPR and LPR passports?

It is very important for residents of these republics to know whether they can enter Russia without problems with a DPR passport, because many have relatives and friends living there, or a place of work or study.

Based on the Decree of 2021, citizens of these regions and citizens of Ukraine living there have the opportunity to enter Russia without a visa on the basis of a passport (or birth certificate for children). Legally, they have the indigeneity of another state, so they are affected by the legislation on the legal status of foreign citizens. The DPR passport in Russia is valid for registration, free movement within the territory of the Russian Federation, employment, registration of entrepreneur status, etc. The LPR passport has the same legal force in Russia.

Advantages of having Russian citizenship for residents of Donbass

Many migrants from Donbass who came to Russia live with a residence permit or temporary residence permit, but with a Russian passport it is more convenient and safer to stay in the country.

The advantages of having a Russian passport include:

– the right to participate in elections;

– the opportunity to hold public office;

– free education and medical care;

– the right to social support;

– the possibility of free movement both within the territory of the Russian Federation and outside the country without time restrictions.

There are also no restrictions on employment and freedom to choose a region to live in.

Difficulties in obtaining Russian citizenship by residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics

Since these regions belong to another state, if they wish, people can obtain a Russian Federation passport on the basis of Law 62-FZ. To obtain this status, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

• stayed in Russia continuously for 5 years from the date of receipt of a residence permit;
• had a regular income;
• renounced previous citizenship;
• spoke Russian fluently.

For refugees, the period of stay in Russia is reduced to 1 year. Thus, Russian citizenship for residents of the LPR and DPR can be obtained on a general basis.

Persons who were born in the former republics of the USSR and serve under contract in the Russian Army for more than 3 years can apply for a Russian passport before 5 years and not be granted a residence permit.

What documentation needs to be prepared

To apply for a Russian passport you will need:

1. Application for citizenship.
2. Passport with registration mark.
3. 3 photo cards size 3x4.
4. Receipt of paid duty. In 2021, the collection amount is 3,500 rubles.

In addition, the migration service may require additional documents, this depends on the conditions and grounds for issuing a passport.

Permission to obtain citizenship or a decision to refuse is made within up to 6 months when submitting documents on a general basis.

Features of acquisition according to a simplified scheme

A simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship is provided for foreigners. Obtaining a Russian passport for residents of the DPR and LPR without mandatory compliance with the condition of a five-year stay is possible in cases where the applicant is a citizen of Russia:

• at least one parent;
• a spouse with whom he has been married for at least 3 years;
• adult children (if the person is incapacitated).

Qualified specialists and individual entrepreneurs who have been working in the Russian Federation for at least 3 years also have the right to simplified acquisition of citizenship. At the same time, the entrepreneur must pay taxes and contributions of more than 1 million rubles per year.

Residents of Lugansk and Donetsk with Russian citizenship: what they can and cannot do

Upon receipt of a Russian passport, residents of Lugansk and Donetsk do not become full citizens of the Russian Federation, because they do not have registration (registration of place of residence) in Russia. And without registration, they are deprived of the opportunity to receive Russian pensions, bank cards, register children born in the Russian Federation, use cars with “republican” license plates, etc. for work. DPR People’s Council deputy Anastasia Selivanova spoke about this in an interview with a Russian publication.

After receiving a Russian passport, a resident of Lugansk or Donetsk must receive a Russian SNILS - the insurance number of an individual personal account.

“This is an analogue of the Ukrainian Taxpayer Identification Number, which is used to identify a person. It is issued free of charge, personal presence is required. You can get it both from the pension fund and from the multifunctional center (MFC). In the first case, they will give it to you immediately, in the second, you will have to wait... And having received SNILS, you can create an account on the State Services website (receiving documents, statements, etc.)... You can live with an unconfirmed account, but the number of portal functions for this category citizens will then be very limited,” Selivanova noted.

Also, the holder of a Russian passport can receive a health insurance policy. But according to it, medical services are provided only in Russia.

But residents of Donbass cannot count on a Russian pension, even if they are citizens of the Russian Federation according to their passport.

“The hopes of citizens that upon receiving a Russian passport they will receive pensions in the DPR and Russia, and even in Ukraine, are in vain. To receive a pension in the Russian Federation, you need to be registered on its territory,” the deputy emphasized.

Also, without registration (registration) in the Russian Federation they will not issue a bank card, but you can simply open a bank account.

Residents of Lugansk and Donetsk with Russian passports cannot register their born children in the Russian Federation.

“It turned out that our citizens, without registration on the territory of the Russian Federation, cannot register a child in Russia and they cannot obtain a birth certificate there either. That is, they can register a child only on the territory of the republic. At the same time, our citizens, when registering acts of civil status (birth, marriage, divorce, death), must present a DPR or Ukrainian passport, that is, the document that contains a mark about their registration on the territory of the republic... According to Russian legislation, a child receives Russian citizenship, if both parents had Russian citizenship at the time of his birth. But, unfortunately, his parents’ birth certificate indicates their citizenship is DPR,” Selivanova laments.

Residents who will soon turn 20 or 45 years old and need a replacement photo in their Russian passport are forced to additionally obtain a foreign passport. This is also due to the fact that “republicans” do not have registration in Russia - for such people, a photo is inserted into the passport and the passport is replaced within 30 days (for full-fledged citizens - 10 days). That is, they will be able to enter the Russian Federation for these procedures, but their passport will be confiscated for a while, and they will not be able to return to the LDPR - Russian border guards simply will not let them out. Having a LDPR passport does not help.

“According to the laws of the Russian Federation, citizens with multiple citizenship, and this includes citizens of the DPR who have received Russian citizenship, can cross the border with the Russian Federation only with a Russian passport. These clarifications are provided by the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation. All these difficulties can be easily resolved if you have a Russian passport in your hands. Using it, you can freely cross the border of the Russian Federation in one direction or the other. It is given for 5 years and costs 2000 rubles. (770 UAH at the local exchange rate - ed.) for adults and children over 14 years old, 1000 rubles. (385 UAH) - for a child under 14 years old,” Selivanova explained.

Having a Russian passport does not solve the problem in Russia of car owners with “republican” license plates on their cars.

“The question arises: can a citizen of the Russian Federation, which you have become, but who does not have registration in a Russian passport, travel with DPR plates and licenses? Yes maybe. But only if the machine is not used for work. Keep in mind: if there is no registration in your Russian passport, you are not a resident of the Russian Federation, therefore, you can enter and exit Russia using DPR plates,” Selivanova noted.

And if a person has received a residence permit (registration) in the Russian Federation, even a fictitious one, then the issue with “republican” license plates becomes more complicated.

“From the moment you put permanent Russian registration in your passport, upon entry you need to clear the car through customs or pay a fee - an advance payment, as a guarantee that you will export the car. Temporary registration frees you from this,” the “Republican” continued.

The issue of registration is also difficult, despite the fact that the Internet is replete with offers for residents of the “LDPR” to sell fictitious registrations. The main nuance is that if they have a registration, men are subject to military registration, and therefore, conscription into the army.

“Some people register, others don’t. It is important to remember one thing here: permanent registration presupposes military registration. If you register in the Russian Federation, but at the same time permanently reside in the DPR, then this is a fictitious registration, and therefore be prepared for a fine if this fact is revealed,” Selivanova emphasized.

Source: Donetsk news

Politics - December 28, 2021 33679

Tags: Issuance of passports, Citizenship of the Russian Federation, Donetsk, News from Lugansk, Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, Registration
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