Russia makes it easier to obtain Russian passport for Belarusian, Kazakh, Moldovan nationals

MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax) - Russian Presidential Decree No. 962, On the Naturalization of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Moldova in the Russian Federation, which took effect on December 18, stipulates a simplified procedure for Belarusian, Kazakh and Moldovan nationals wishing to obtain Russian citizenship.

"The key condition for naturalization under the decree is residency in the Russian Federation. Applicants for Russian citizenship provide their residency permit and national passport together with their application. Citizens of Kazakhstan and Moldova must also provide a document to prove their command of the Russian language," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

The Russian Interior Ministry and its territorial offices are the only entities competent to consider such applications and decide whether they are subject to approval or refusal, the ministry said.

The Russian presidential decree simplifying the naturalization procedure for any citizen of Belarus, Kazakhstan or Moldova was published on Russia's official legal information website on December 18.