On Thursday, the State Duma ratified the agreement on dual citizenship between South Ossetia and Russia. Presenting the initiative, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has noted that a distinctive feature of the agreement with South Ossetia is the unilateral introduction for its citizens of a simplified procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship.
"The parameters of the procedure will be set by the President of the Russian Federation after the adoption of the relevant decree," Rudenko said.
In his opinion, the ratification of the agreement demonstrates "the invariance of our line of support for South Ossetia, a country that is our closest neighbor."
"This agreement was signed in Tskhinval on September 20, 2021. It is aimed at regulating the legal status of citizens with dual citizenship without renouncing their existing citizenship," he said. "The ratification of this agreement would be an important and timely step in strengthening relations."
Rudenko stressed that "in the context of the current geopolitical tensions and the presidential elections that has recently taken place in South Ossetia, this would demonstrate Russia's unwavering desire to support the country that is its closest ally," where more than 85% of citizens also have Russian citizenship.
According to the agreement signed in Tskhinval on September 20, 2021, citizens of one side have the right to acquire the citizenship of the other side without renouncing their citizenship.
Russia provides citizens of South Ossetia (at the time of recognition of the Republic on August 26, 2008), who have reached the age of majority, the right to apply for admission to Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. At the same time, the conditions for admission to citizenship, the procedure for submitting applications for admission, the list of documents to be submitted and the procedure for considering applications are established by the President of Russia.
It is also noted that persons who are citizens of both parties enjoy the rights to social security, education, medical care in accordance with the legislation of the party in whose territory they permanently reside. At the same time, any party has the right to provide such persons with rights and benefits, even if they reside in the territory of the other party.
The Parties also provide each other, upon request, with information on the acquisition by persons with dual citizenship of the citizenship of a third State.
The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification. It is valid for five years and is automatically renewed for subsequent five-year periods, unless either party notifies the other through official channels six months before the expiration of the next five-year period.
