The purpose is more effective protection of the rights of compatriots

August 7 a law-in-draft on simplifying the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for compatriots was introduced to in the State Duma. The initiative was taken by the Government of the Russian Federation. The document also proposes to give the President of Russia the authority to determine for humanitarian purposes the categories of foreign citizens entitled to acquire Russian citizenship in a simplified manner.

In addition, it is envisaged to simplify the admission to Russian citizenship of the participants in the State Program for the Promotion of Voluntary Resettlement in the Russian Federation of Compatriots Living Abroad, who have been granted a temporary residence permit in Russia or a residence permit. They are supposed to be given the right to apply for admission to Russian citizenship in a simplified manner, including at the place of stay in the region chosen for residence.

The explanatory note mentioned the provisions of this law-in-draft concerning the simplification of the procedure for admission to the Russian citizenship of the participants in the state program "apply to all categories of such participants located on the territory of the Russian Federation".

As the authors of the legislative initiative note, the introduction of the proposed amendments to the legislation "will stimulate the movement to the Russian Federation of compatriots living abroad, and also promote more effective protection of their rights".