Zelensky proposes easing granting of Ukrainian citizenship to certain categories of individuals
MOSCOW. Jan 23 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has invited the Verkhovna Rada to pass a new version of the law On Citizenship and facilitate the procedure for granting Ukrainian citizenship to certain categories of individuals.
The Verkhovna Rada registered a bill concerning grounds and a procedure for granting and terminating Ukrainian citizenship on Monday, Ukrainian media reported with reference to Rada's website.
The bill provides for a fast-track procedure for granting or reinstating Ukrainian citizenship to citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
A fast-track procedure implies the submission by an applicant of a declaration in which they identify themselves as a Ukrainian citizen.
A fast-track procedure for granting Ukrainian citizenship would also apply to foreigners who are serving or have served under a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, or the National Guard, as well as to individuals recognized as refugees or granted asylum in Ukraine.
Apart from that, a fast-track procedure would apply to individuals who have rendered outstanding services to Ukraine.
The bill stipulates that a foreigner or an individual without citizenship may be granted Ukrainian citizenship on application. Among the essential conditions for being granted Ukrainian citizenship is the uninterrupted stay in Ukraine over the past five years. This condition, however, would not apply to foreigners or individuals without citizenship who have served under a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, or the National Guard.
This provision would also not apply to foreigners and individuals without citizenship who have been married to a Ukrainian citizen for longer than three years.
The new version of the law proposed by Zelensky stipulates that Ukrainian citizenship shall not be granted to an individual posing a threat to Ukraine's national interests, national security, public order, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The bill also envisions amendments to the laws On Immigration, On Legal Status of Foreigners and Individuals Without Citizenship, and On Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language.
In particular, amendments to the law On Ensuring the Functioning of Ukrainian as the State Language do not require individuals applying for Ukrainian citizenship in line with a fast-track procedure to pass a language test. These applicants would take an obligation to pass tests on the basics of the Ukrainian constitution, Ukraine's history, and a language test as stipulated by the law On Ukrainian Citizenship, which requires them to acquire the Ukrainian language at the level regulated by law within three years after being granted Ukrainian citizenship.
Zelensky recently requested the Rada to legalize multiple citizenship in Ukraine, on the condition that this practice would not apply to Russian citizens.