MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - The Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, approved a bill on Wednesday that broadens the president's powers to determine categories of individuals who are entitled to fast-track naturalization in Russia.
The bill shortens the list of naturalization requirements for over 20 categories of individuals.
The bill defines the range of individuals entitled to fast-track naturalization, including citizens of the former Soviet Union and their children, and individuals holding the status of a participant in the state program facilitating voluntary relocation of compatriots to Russia from abroad and their families
The rule also applies to individuals with close relatives who are Russian citizens living in Russia, as well as individuals with direct relatives who permanently resided in the former Russian Empire or the former Soviet Union (or within the state borders of Russia). They qualify for fast-track naturalization without being recognized as native Russian speakers, alongside individuals born in the Russian Federation (or the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic) before February 6, 1992.
Individuals with at least one parent who was a citizen of the former Soviet Union and permanently resided in the Russian Federation (or the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic) on the day of their birth, servicemen who took an oath of allegiance to the former Soviet Union or the Russian Federation or served in military units under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and stationed in other countries (including in the Joint Armed Forces of the CIS) as of February 6, 1992, and their wives and children who were such as of February 6, 1992, qualify for fast-track naturalization.
A foreign citizen or a stateless individual older than 18 who has permanently resided in Russia for at least one year may apply for fast-track naturalization on the condition that they have served at least one year in the Russian Armed Forces, the bill says.
The same rule applies to foreigners who have resided in Russia for at least one year as refugees or have political asylum in Russia.
The bill says that the president may designate other categories of foreign citizens or stateless individuals entitled to fast-track naturalization for humanitarian and other purposes, bypassing all or certain requirements, such as at least five years of permanent residence in Russia since the day they were issued a Russian residence permit until the day of their application for naturalization in Russia, fluency in the Russian language, and knowledge of Russian history and legislative foundations.
The bill allows the Russian president to make decisions on terminating the Russian citizenship of children under the guardianship of or adopted by foreign citizens. Individuals whose Russian citizenship has been terminated at the request of their lawful representatives are entitled to fast-track naturalization within five years of their 18th birthday.
Seeking to prevent fictitious marriages between foreign and Russian citizens with the aim of naturalization in Russia, fast-track naturalization will be stipulated only for parents of a common child born in marriage.
A child whose parents or single parent were foreign citizens or stateless individuals on the day of the child's birth will be naturalized by birth if he or she is born on a ship or aircraft belonging to the Russian Federation and is not a citizen of another country by birth, the bill said.
The bill expands the list of crimes which result in termination of Russian citizenship. This includes crimes against Russian national security, discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces' operations, and a violation of Russia's national security. In such cases, citizenship can be terminated irrespective of when the crime was committed.
The dual or multiple citizenship of a Russian citizen cannot serve as the basis for deportation from Russia or extradition to another state, including the state the individual has citizenship of, the bill says.
Foreigners and stateless individuals applying for naturalization in Russia will be subject to mandatory fingerprinting.
The bill says that a Russian citizen must notify the authorities of every case of naturalization by another country, or the issuing of a residence permit or another document confirming the citizen's right to permanently reside in a foreign state. Citizens may also notify the authorities about the loss of foreign citizenship and other documents noted above.
The bill will take effect 180 days after its official publication.