BBC Russia reports that the Federal Assembly of Russia has passed a law simplifying the citizenship process for Russian speakers. According to this law Russian speakers whose forefathers/ancestors previously lived in the Russian Empire or the USSR, or presently reside in Russia, will receive citizenship. This simplified procedure will allow Russian speakers to receive Russian citizenship without having to obtain a temporary residence permit beforehand. Russian passports will be given to those who decide to live in Russia permanently and who resign from their country’s citizenship. A foreign citizen or stateless person must give an interview to a special committee to be considered a Russian speaker. The committee recognizes a Russian speaker as a person who uses the Russian language on a daily basis. Head of Russia’s Federal Migration Service Ekaterina Egorovna stated that the committee will not check the literacy of the applicants. The law will pass once the President of Russia ratifies it.
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