The agreement on dual citizenship between South Ossetia and Russia will come into force from the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification, the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry reports.
"According to the document, persons who have received dual citizenship will have the right to social security, education, medical care in accordance with the legislation of the country in which they permanently reside. This rule also applies to military service. It will be valid for five years and be automatically renewed for the same period, unless either party notifies the other in writing six months before the expiration of the next five-year period of its intention to terminate it.
The dual citizenship agreement between South Ossetia and Russia was signed in September 2021. In December of the same year, it was ratified by the Parliament of South Ossetia. At the meeting on Thursday, the State Duma ratified the agreement between Russia and South Ossetia on dual citizenship.
Earlier, President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov told reporters that the Republic had been moving towards signing an agreement with the Russian Federation on dual citizenship since 2008, when South Ossetia was recognized by the Russian Federation. He specified that this agreement would make life easier for the citizens of the Republic, would provide them with social protection, and also make it possible to receive Russian pensions.
About the Agreement
In early August last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a draft agreement with South Ossetia on dual citizenship and on a simplified procedure for acquiring Russian citizenship by citizens of the Republic.
The text of the Agreement explains that citizens of one party are entitled, without renouncing their citizenship, to acquire the citizenship of the other party. Russia grants 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 grant rights and benefits to such persons, even if they reside in the territory of the other party. The Parties shall 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 is subject to ratification and enters into force on the date of the exchange of instruments of ratification. It is valid for five years and is automatically extended 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.
"The termination of the Agreement does not automatically entail the termination of the citizenship of either party. The further stay of persons with the citizenship of both parties is regulated by applicable international treaties and the legislation of the parties," the document summarizes.
