Putin signs law granting citizenship to foreigners serving in Russia’s armed forces

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a decree granting Russian citizenship to foreigners who have concluded a contract to serve in the Russian armed forces.

This was disclosed in a document on Russia’s portal of legal acts.

“Foreign citizens who have concluded a contract for military service in the Russian armed forces or military formations during the special military operation or who are serving in the Russian armed forces or military formations during the special military operation have the right to apply for Russian citizenship,” the document reads.

According to the document, family members of foreigners who have signed a contract with the Russian defence ministry, will also be eligible for Russian citizenship.

This includes spouses, children and parents.

The document adds that foreign citizens dismissed from military service in the armed forces of the Russian Federation, or military formations during a special military operation, are eligible.

The decree reportedly comes into force on the day of its publication.

Putin reportedly signed a similar decree in September 2022. In the previous version, the timeframe for reviewing the application was three months, while in the new version it is only one.

The old version of the document was also said to have stated that the applicant must have served in the ministry of defence for at least six months while the new version does not contain this clause.