South Ossetia has been working on the agreement on simplified acquisition of Russian citizenship for citizens of the Republic for more than three years, Chairman of the RSO Parliament Committee on Foreign Policy and Inter-parliamentary Relations Zaza Driaev said at the press conference in Sputnik-South Ossetia.
“The agreement, signed back in 2021, was the result of many years of efforts by the leadership of South Ossetia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliament of the Republic. Deputies regularly raised this issue at the meetings of the Inter-parliamentary Commission. Now the agreement has entered into force. We are very happy, since our residents will be able to acquire Russian citizenship. We express our deep gratitude to the leadership of the Russian Federation for their support and assistance in implementing this important issue,” Driaev said.
As noted by Driaev, obtaining Russian citizenship will provide residents of South Ossetia with access to a wide range of social guarantees, as well as high-quality educational and medical services.
“This agreement is of particular importance for the military personnel of South Ossetia, since previously their service in the Republic was not taken into account in Russia, but with the agreement on dual citizenship the situation will change,” the parliamentarian has noted.
Deputy of the People's Assembly - the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia Inar Gitsba emphasized that the agreement on dual citizenship was a very pressing issue for citizens of Abkhazia and was received by residents with great enthusiasm.
“Until 2008, there was a process when citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia were given the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. But after Russia recognized the independence of the republic, this simplified procedure was slightly changed: citizens who had not reached the age of 18 continued to receive the opportunity to obtain Russian citizenship if one of their parents or guardians already had Russian citizenship at that time,” Gitsba said.
However, according to him, a large number of people did not have time to obtain Russian citizenship at the time.
“But in addition to the opportunity to enter such a “window to the world,” it gives us the opportunity to access quality education and various social, including medical services,” the deputy has noted.
He gas added, applicants permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia, using Russian citizenship, will be able to participate in various student programs through Rossotrudnichestvo, enroll in leading, best universities in their specialty in the Russian Federation.
