Becoming Russian Citizen Will No Longer Be Easy

Russia is planning to toughen the procedure for receiving Russian citizenship. The draft bill On Citizenship in the Russian Federation introduces considerable clarity in the issues of receiving and being denied Russian citizenship, Oleg Kutafin, chairman of the citizenship commission under the Russian president, told a Thursday news conference at the Interfax main office in Moscow. The period of time in which one is required to live on the territory of the Russian federation to become a Russian citizen has been extended to five years, Kutafin said. It will be more difficult to receive Russian citizenship for people who are married to a Russian citizen. Previously, a marriage certificate was enough to be granted Russian citizenship. Now, one is required to have been married for three years to become a Russian citizen, Kutafin said. He also explained that the draft bill also contains an expanded list of grounds for being denied Russian citizenship. In particular, Russian citizenship will not be granted to people posing a threat to Russia's security, people serving in the military and security bodies of other countries, and also people convicted of grave crimes punishable under Russian legislation.