Zelensky simplifies granting of Ukrainian citizenship

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree making changes to the procedure for the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners who participated in the defense of Ukraine and by Russian citizens who were subject to political persecution.
The decree, No. 594/2019, has been published on the website of the head of state.

"In order to ensure the protection of human rights and freedoms, resolve the issue of acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by separate categories of persons, I resolve to make amendments to the procedure for submitting applications and motions on the issues of Ukrainian citizenship and the implementation of the adopted decisions," the document reads.

In particular, the document exempts from the need to submit an obligation to terminate foreign citizenship the persons who are citizens of the Russian Federation and who are persecuted because of political convictions in the country of their citizenship and apply for citizenship of Ukraine.

Those exempted from such a need are also persons who serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and who have outstanding services to Ukraine, or the granting of Ukrainian citizenship to whom is of national interest (those who were or are taking measures to ensure national security and defense, repel and deter Russia's armed aggression in Donetsk and Luhansk regions) and apply for citizenship of Ukraine.

The president also instructed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to immediately draft and submit to the Verkhovna Rada a bill aimed at simplifying the procedure for the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by citizens subject to politically motivated persecution and by foreigners and stateless persons who participated in the defense of Ukraine.

In addition, the government was instructed to develop and submit to parliament within three months a draft law on the procedure for granting asylum, as well as to optimize the process of considering applications from Russian citizens for their recognition as refugees or persons in need of additional protection, and to take respective decisions in due course.

The Cabinet of Ministers should also organize and conduct, with the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine, the compliance by the State Migration Service of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, diplomatic missions and consular posts of Ukraine with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation in the sphere of citizenship when making decisions on the acquisition of citizenship.

The decree comes into force from the day of its publication.