Zelensky introduced a bill on multiple citizenship in the Verkhovna Rada
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi has submitted a bill on multiple citizenship to the Verkhovna Rada. According to the head of state, this will for the first time allow Ukrainians from all over the world to "feel not like the diaspora, but like people of Ukrainian citizenship."
What changes are proposed
"An important component of our international policy is to support world Ukrainians. I know how important multiple citizenship is for Ukrainians living in the United States, Canada and the EU. Today I am submitting the relevant bill to the parliament. There are 65 million of us”, - Zelensky said during his annual speech to the Rada on December 1.
Bill 366368 amends the Law on Citizenship of Ukraine regarding the grounds and procedure for acquiring and terminating Ukrainian citizenship. The document is defined as urgent and is being considered by the committee.
Another important point that focuses on the review of the grounds for losing the citizenship of Ukraine. In particular, deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship of persons holding a Russian passport is envisaged. The document will be confiscated from adult citizens of Ukraine if it is used in the country. According to the initiative, this poses a threat to national security and national interests.
The bill also proposes to introduce a declaration of renunciation of foreign citizenship and recognition of oneself as a citizen of Ukraine.
Such a document can be submitted by foreigners who:
- have refugee status in Ukraine or have been granted asylum in Ukraine;
- serve under contract in the Armed Forces or the National Guard;
- served in the military, but the contract was terminated for certain reasons;
- received a temporary residence permit;
- have outstanding merits before Ukraine or whose acceptance into the citizenship of Ukraine is of state interest for Ukraine;
- are nationals of the aggressor or occupying State and have been persecuted in the country of their nationality for political reasons;
- are citizens of a state whose legislation provides for the automatic termination of citizenship of this state simultaneously with the acquisition of citizenship of another state.
The document also establishes the grounds on which a person cannot acquire Ukrainian citizenship by territorial origin (committed a crime against humanity or committed genocide, convicted in Ukraine for a serious or especially serious crime, committed a serious or particularly serious crime in another state.
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