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Russia grants citizenship to over 3,300 foreigners under Putin's military decree

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Russia grants citizenship to over 3,300 foreigners under Putin's military decree
Photo for illustrative purpose. A man holds his passport during an interview in Belgrade, Serbia, on Feb. 1, 2024. (Andrej Isakovic/AFP via Getty Images)

A total of 3,344 foreigners have been granted Russian citizenship since the beginning of 2024 under one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decrees, Irina Volk, a representative for the Russian Interior Ministry, claimed on Nov. 4.

Putin signed in January a decree allowing foreigners who have served a year under contract in the Russian army, as well as their close relatives, to obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure.

According to the document, the mandatory knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and legislation are excluded.

Volk did not specify whether the figure includes only mercenaries or their family members as well.

Since the start of the all-out war, Moscow has been recruiting foreigners from Nepal, Somalia, India, Cuba, and other countries to fight against Ukraine.

In August, Putin signed a decree allowing foreigners and stateless persons to apply for temporary residence in Russia on "moral grounds." Another decree made it easier for all Ukrainian residents to acquire Russian citizenship, a move condemned by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.

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Kateryna Denisova

Politics Reporter

Kateryna Denisova is the reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in Ukrainian politics. Based in Kyiv, she focuses on domestic affairs, parliament, and social issues. Denisova began her career in journalism in 2020 and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. She also studied at journalism schools in the Czech Republic and Germany.

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