Duma passes bill on fast track to Russian citizenship
MOSCOW. April 4 (Interfax) - The State Duma passed a bill making it easier for Russian native speakers to acquire Russian citizenship.
The relevant amendments are being made to the federal law "On Russian citizenship" and certain statutory acts at the government's initiative.
Russian native speakers, whose lineal ascendants resided in Russia or a territory that was part of the Russian Empire or the USSR - "within the limits of the Russian national border" - can acquire Russian citizenship in a fast-track procedure, provided they relocate to Russia permanently and renounce their foreign citizenship.
The law will also extend to all of Russia, including its new regions, i.e. the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol, head of the Duma Committee for Constitutional Legislation and State-Building Vladimir Pligin told reporters.
Under the law, applicants will be interviewed to have their knowledge of Russian tested. The current deadlines for considering and deciding on Russian citizenship applications will be reduced to a maximum of three months.
Also reduced from six to three months is the deadline for considering Russian citizenship applications filed by participants of the government program to provide assistance in the voluntary relocation to Russia of compatriots living abroad.