“Poroshenko will not buy us”: how Ukrainians obtain Russian citizenship

The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainian citizens has been simplified since September 1, 2021. The changes mainly affected the process of renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship, which was previously difficult. Otherwise, the procedure remains the same - as before, it is beneficial for Ukrainians to become Russian citizens according to a simplified procedure.

There are several priority grounds for Ukrainian citizens that allow them to obtain citizenship with minimal effort and expense. First of all, this is registration of the status of a native speaker of the Russian language and participation in the State Program for the Resettlement of Compatriots.

We will tell you more about all the ways Ukrainians can obtain Russian citizenship using simplified schemes in the article.

New rules for obtaining Russian citizenship by citizens of Ukraine, introduced on September 1, 2021

At the end of 2021, the Internet was filled with information about simplifying the process of obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainians. However, this is not entirely true - there are simplifications, but they are not as significant as they are said to be. The grounds for acquiring Russian citizenship for Ukrainians remain the same, and the time frame for becoming a Russian citizen has not changed. Let's figure out what changes to the legislation were adopted in September 2021.

The law that marked the changes and makes it easier for citizens of Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship, which everyone is talking about, is the Federal Law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Citizenship...” and Articles 8 and 14 of the Federal Law “On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens...” dated July 29. 2017 No. 243-FZ (new law on citizenship of the Russian Federation of 2017, which supplements the existing Law on Citizenship).

The first innovation affected not only Ukrainians, but also other immigrants. The Law “On Citizenship...” of May 31, 2002 No. 62 introduced Article 11.1, which obliges all foreigners wishing to obtain a Russian Federation passport to take an oath. The text of the oath is the same for everyone, but a number of immigrants were exempted from the obligation to take an oath of allegiance to the Russian state. We wrote in detail about how the oath-taking procedure takes place in our separate article.

The second change introduced by the new law for obtaining Russian citizenship in 2021 is very important for Ukrainians who receive a Russian passport as native speakers of the Russian language (hereinafter also referred to as NRN). As is known, in order to become subjects of Russia, such immigrants are required to renounce Ukrainian citizenship. However, the Ukrainian authorities prevented this by creating a complex procedure that few could go through (the authorities did not allow renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship).

As a result, the Russian authorities accommodated Ukrainian immigrants and approved changes to paragraph “c” of Part Two.1 of Article 14 of the Citizenship Law. According to the amendments, it is enough for Ukrainians to send a notarized application for renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship to the consular department of the Ukrainian Embassy in the Russian Federation.

Here is an excerpt from the law:

To confirm sending, when submitting documents for Russian citizenship, you must submit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Migration at your place of residence a notarized copy of the application for renunciation of citizenship and a document confirming the acceptance of the application at the Ukrainian Embassy. If the application was sent by mail, it is sufficient to provide a notification of its receipt with a list of the contents.

Accordingly, the consent of the Ukrainian authorities to renounce Ukrainian citizenship is no longer necessary, obtaining a certificate is not required, which means that the path to becoming citizens of the Russian Federation for Ukrainians (NRY) is open and registration of Russian citizenship in a simplified manner has become publicly available.

The following message was posted about this event on the website of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs:

“Is it possible to breathe in Crimea?”

Instead of Ukrainian TV channels, which have been switched off in Crimea since the spring of 2014, Russian analogue television operates. The independent channel of the Crimean Tatars ATR, which advocated for the integrity of Ukraine, now broadcasts from Kyiv, since its activities are prohibited on the peninsula. Other Crimean media were also banned - “15 minutes”, “Lâle”, “Crimea. Realities." “Is it possible to breathe in Crimea?” local journalists ask.

Grounds for acquiring Russian citizenship in a simplified manner for Ukrainians

Ukrainian citizens are residents of the former USSR, they know the Russian language, and are well adapted to Russian culture. Often there are close relatives in Russia. That is why it is quite possible to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner for citizens of Ukraine in 2021 and subsequent years.

Simplified schemes assume that there is no obligation to reside in Russia for 5 years from the date of obtaining a residence permit. There are reasons that will help simplify the procedure several times. In particular, if you obtain citizenship as an RN, you can immediately apply for a residence permit (without receiving a temporary residence permit), and then become a citizen of the Russian Federation without waiting 5 years from the date of registration of the residence permit.

Citizenship of the Russian Federation for citizens of Ukraine can be obtained in a simplified manner in 2019 on various grounds prescribed in Art. 14 of the Citizenship Law. We will present the most relevant of them.

In a simplified manner, a Ukrainian or Ukrainian woman can become citizens of the Russian Federation if they:

1. They have at least one parent who lives in Russia and has citizenship of the country.
2. They were born in the RSFSR and had citizenship of the former USSR.
3. Married to a Russian citizen for at least 3 years.
4. Disabled (that is, they are disabled or pensioners) and they have a child living in Russia and having citizenship of the country.
5. Have a child under the age of 18 who is a citizen of Russia. At the same time, the second parent of this child died and was deprived of parental rights.
6. Recognized as native speakers of Russian (NRY).
7. Participate in the State Resettlement Program.

All the reasons for acquiring the status of a citizen of the Russian Federation, as well as the procedure for obtaining it, can be found in our article: “Everything about obtaining Russian citizenship.”

Under the control of the Russian military

The illegitimate referendum on March 16, 2014 changed the lives of Crimeans. Despite the protests, bypassing the Constitution of Ukraine, the issue of changing the status of Crimea was put to a vote. The new authorities called the transfer of the Crimean region from the RSFSR to the Ukrainian SSR in 1954 illegal and signed an agreement on joining the Russian Federation. The majority of Crimean residents rejoiced, and repression fell on the protesters.

How to choose the basis for acquiring citizenship using a simplified procedure

Depending on which path is chosen to obtain Russian citizenship for a citizen of Ukraine in a simplified manner, it depends on how the procedure will proceed. Therefore, the decision must be approached carefully.

First you need to check whether you have the right to obtain the status of a native speaker of the Russian language, or to participate in the state program for the resettlement of compatriots. These are the easiest ways to obtain citizenship. Below in the article we will describe in detail what requirements are imposed on Ukrainians to participate in the listed programs.

If you cannot participate in these programs (there is no reason), you need to check whether it is possible to participate in other programs that allow you to obtain Russian citizenship for Ukrainians in a simplified manner (for example, by parents, by child, by marriage). If these grounds are not suitable, you will have to obtain citizenship in the general manner (we covered this issue in detail in this article).

Below we will cover the question of how Ukrainians can obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner for each of the grounds, but we will dwell in more detail on the native speaker program.

How to legally get to Crimea

Kyiv does not recognize uncontrolled entry into annexed Crimea from Russia. Foreigners must first enter the territory of Ukraine and only then proceed to the peninsula, otherwise they may end up on Ukrainian lists of prohibited entry. You can get to Crimea through a checkpoint on the administrative border with mainland Ukraine - on foot or by car; there is no other transport here. Travel and passage are free for Ukrainians.

Acquiring Russian citizenship by birth, parents, children, marriage

We will not dwell on these grounds in detail, since it does not make sense - Ukrainians who have relatives in the Russian Federation can participate in resettlement programs and NRN.

Nevertheless, it is quite possible for a Ukrainian to obtain a Russian passport using these simplified schemes. If you choose one of these grounds, you will have to obtain a temporary residence permit and a residence permit, but you do not need to live in the Russian Federation for 5 years; you can immediately obtain citizenship after receiving a residence permit.

If you want to read what documents are needed for a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship on these grounds, you can read our separate article.

Thus, Russian citizenship is available in a simplified manner for citizens of Ukraine under the programs of native speakers of the Russian language and the resettlement of compatriots. In addition, it is not prohibited to receive it on other grounds for simplified relocation, as well as in the general manner.

Crimean Tatars are outlaws

The Crimean Tatars suffered the most from the annexation of Crimea. The repressions affected everyone who considers Russia’s actions illegal. In 2016, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people was recognized as an extremist organization. Its leaders are being persecuted; searches and arrests in Tatar homes do not stop. This was the case in 1944, when they were deported from the peninsula as enemies of the people by the Soviet NKVD.

Sanctions for annexation

The European Union and the United States, which have not recognized the annexation of Crimea, do not recommend their companies to acquire businesses, real estate or trade with the peninsula. And Crimean enterprises cannot sell their products to the EU and America. Because of the sanctions, Crimeans’ Visa and MasterCard cards do not work and loans have become more expensive, because large Russian banks are in no hurry to come to Crimea.

The gold of the Crimean Scythians will move to Kyiv

The treasures of local museums - hundreds of gold jewelry and weapons - will not return to Crimea. In December 2016, a court in the Netherlands decided to transfer to Kyiv this unique collection of 550 artifacts, which during the days of the annexation of Crimea traveled to exhibitions in Europe. The court ruling states that the future fate of the exhibits of the exhibition “Crimea. Gold and secrets of the Black Sea” will be decided by a Ukrainian court.

Tourist business suffers losses

During the season, all beaches in Crimea are open; Russia has allowed the import of products from Ukraine here. Residents working in the service infrastructure hope that life will return to normal. But the flow of tourists has decreased by almost a third over 3 years. Railroad connections have been interrupted, and flying on vacation without much comfort is expensive. Due to EU sanctions, cruise ships with foreigners do not enter the ports of Crimea.

Bridge from Putin's friend

The construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, which will connect the mainland of the Russian Federation and Crimea, is being carried out in emergency mode. The contract for construction worth 228 billion rubles was awarded to Arkady Rotenberg, a Russian oligarch and friend of Putin. By December 2018, it is planned to build 4 automobile lanes, and by December 2019, 2 railroad lanes and access roads to them.

The promised one has been waiting for three years

Those who voted for Crimea as part of Russia expect Putin to fulfill his promises: the construction of the Kerch Bridge, a gas pipeline, power plants and solutions to social problems. In the meantime, the incomes of Crimean residents do not keep pace with rising prices and the increase in the cost of communal services. But information about those dissatisfied with the standard of living and local protests appears only on social networks and independent media.