MOSCOW, August 2. Russia’s Federation Council, or upper house of parliament, has passed a bill that introduces amendments to the Law on Russian Citizenship, specifying that any person avoiding military registration will have their Russian citizenship revoked. The new law aims to curb undesirable practices and maintain national security.
Previously, under the existing law, individuals could lose their Russian citizenship if they provided knowingly false information about their commitments to uphold the Russian constitution and its laws, which poses a threat to Russia’s national security. The new bill builds on this norm by including non-observance of Russia’s laws as grounds for losing one’s citizenship, with specific emphasis on failing to register with a military commissariat.
The legislation also mandates that interior agencies consult the military registry data about men who have been granted Russian citizenship before they take their citizenship oaths. These amendments supplement the law on military duty and military service.
In the explanatory note to the law, it is stated that foreigners and individuals without citizenship who are seeking Russian passports must register with a military commissariat covering their area. However, according to the authors of the bill, “there have been reports that after being granted Russian citizenship, such persons have been dodging their military duties.” They continue, “These cases do not sit well with the population. This stirs negative social and political sentiments, undermines the credibility of the institution of citizenship, promotes a disregard for the law, including among so-called ‘new citizens.
The new amendments are designed to ensure that all Russian citizens fulfill their obligations under the country’s laws, thereby maintaining national security and fostering a sense of responsibility among its citizenry.