President Vladimir Putin has approved a decree expediting the process of granting Russian citizenship to foreigners who join the nation’s military amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This decision is part of Moscow’s efforts to bolster its forces in Ukraine, employing various strategies, including recruiting migrants. Russia, attracting numerous individuals from poorer Central Asian nations, witnesses a yearly influx of many seeking citizenship.
In September 2022, Putin initially permitted accelerated citizenship for foreign enlistees in the Russian army, following a call for partial mobilization to draft 300,000 reservists for the Ukrainian conflict.
Originally, immigrants signing a one-year contract and engaging in active hostilities for at least six months could apply for citizenship, along with their families, without demonstrating extensive Russian knowledge or residing in the country for five years under a permit.
In May 2023, another decree simplified the process further, removing the requirement of active hostilities participation. It extended eligibility to anyone signing a year-long contract during the Kremlin’s Ukraine operation, along with their families.
The decree signed Thursday made the citizenship path even quicker, saying a decision on such applications shouldn’t take more than a month, instead of three. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on why Putin decided on that change.
The new decree comes amid regular media reports of police raids in Russian cities that target migrants According to the reports, those detained in such raids are often offered or even pressured to sign contracts with the military, and those who have recently acquired Russian citizenship are sent to enlistment offices to determine whether they’re eligible for mandatory service.
Reports from fall 2022 highlighted Moscow authorities’ enlistment ads and offers of fast-track citizenship in Uzbek, Tajik, and Kyrgyz languages on bus routes. The mayor also pledged a temporary enlistment site for migrants outside Moscow.
Since the Ukraine conflict, Russia has aimed to strengthen its military, with Putin ordering troop increases, most recently in December, targeting a force of 1.32 million. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu advocates for a 1.5 million-strong force to ensure Russia’s security, without specifying the timeline for this expansion.