Kyiv: Russian law on granting citizenship to Ukrainians infringes on their rights
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine urged citizens of Ukraine not to succumb to provocations by the Russian Federation to simplify the acquisition of Russian citizenship.
The Foreign Ministry regards the Russian leadership's adoption of a law simplifying the acquisition of Russian citizenship by Ukrainian citizens as a complete disregard for international law, the Foreign Ministry said in a commentary.
"We regard this step by the aggressor state as a continuation of legal discrimination and infringement on the rights of Ukrainian citizens who, due to various circumstances, live or work on the territory of Russia, as well as in the territory of Ukraine occupied by it. With that in mind, we urge citizens of Ukraine not to succumb to such provocations and once again caution against making trips to the Russian Federation," the document says.
The Foreign Ministry called the decision of the Russian authorities "a sign by the agressor-state of of total disregard for international law and the sovereignty of other states," stressing that Ukrainian citizenship canot be renounced by sending a notarized statement on the renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship to the country of citizenship's authorized body, and the content of such documents are essentially null and void.
"According to current Ukrainian legislation, the only document certifying the termination of Ukrainian citizenship…is a corresponding decree by the President of Ukraine," the agency recalled.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that in the case that the Russian Federation violated the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens, the citizens would receive all necessary consular support at Ukrainian diplomatic and consular institutions.
On July 19, the State Duma of the Russian Federation legalized a public renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship. Russian lawmakers approved the law, which provides for the deprivation of citizenship for terrorism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the relevant law on July 30.