State Duma passes bill on obligation to register for military service when taking Russian citizenship

MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - The State Duma on Wednesday passed at its first and immediately third reading a bill on mandatory registration for military service when taking Russian citizenship.

The document was authored by a group of MPs from all factions led by State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin.

Male foreign citizens and stateless persons who now take Russian citizenship and are in the service age group are now obligated to register for military service at their place of residence (place of stay).

At the same time, situations when such individuals evade military duty after receiving Russian citizenship have been broadly reported, according to an explanatory note.

In this regard, the bill synchronizes the processes of registration for military service and the receipt of Russian citizenship. For this purpose, Russian Interior Ministry agencies are obligated to provide information on males regarding whom decisions have been made on granting Russian citizenship to them and who are expected to take the oath of a Russian citizen electronically using the unified system of interagency electronic interaction.

The document also provides that non-observance of the obligation of initial registration for military service by an individual who has received Russian citizenship will be grounds for termination of this citizenship.