Vladimir Putin offers citizenship to foreigners who fight for Russia – IndiaTimes

President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree allowing foreign nationals who have fought for Russia in Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship for themselves and their families. Under the new order, individuals who have signed contracts during what Moscow refers to as its "special military operation" in Ukraine can apply for Russian passports for themselves, their spouses, children, and parents. It is a requirement for them to provide documents proving their commitment to a minimum one-year service. This includes individuals who have signed contracts with the regular armed forces or other "military formations," which may include groups like the Wagner mercenary organization. Initial fast-track citizenship policy In September 2022, following the announcement of a partial mobilization to draft 300,000 reservists for the conflict in Ukraine, Putin first permitted fast-track citizenship for foreigners who signed contracts with the Russian military. Under this policy, immigrants who committed to at least a year of service and participated in active hostilities for a minimum of six months could apply for citizenship without proving their proficiency in Russian or a five-year residency in Russia under a permit. This opportunity was also extended to their spouses and children, with authorities required to make decisions on such applications within three months, as per a presidential decree at the time. Further simplification in 2023 In May 2023, another decree by Putin further simplified the citizenship process. The requirement for six months of active hostilities was eliminated, allowing anyone who signed a year-long contract during the Kremlin's special military operation in Ukraine, along with their families, to apply through the fast-track procedure. Latest decree for quicker citizenship The decree signed on Thursday further accelerates the citizenship process, reducing the decision-making period on applications to just one month, down from three. The Kremlin has not immediately commented on the rationale behind this change. Reports of police raids targeting migrants Concurrent with these decrees, there have been regular media reports of police raids in Russian cities focusing on migrants. According to these reports, individuals detained in such raids are frequently coerced or pressured into signing military contracts. Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper, reported a significant raid on New Year's Eve in St. Petersburg, where over 3,000 migrants were detained. An anonymous police source indicated that the objective of the raid was to recruit men for the army. The aim of this measure seems to be to provide additional incentives for foreigners with military experience to join the Russian ranks. Official data regarding the number of foreigners fighting on Russia's side in Ukraine is not publicly available. However, previous reports from Reuters have highlighted cases of Cubans who enlisted in the military in exchange for bonuses equivalent to over 100 times the average monthly salary in Cuba, as well as three Africans recruited by Wagner, two of whom were killed in action. According to a declassified US intelligence report, Russia has suffered a significant toll in the Ukraine war, with approximately 315,000 dead and wounded troops. This accounts for nearly 90% of the personnel it had at the beginning of the conflict, as shared by a source familiar with the intelligence. In September 2022, Russia initiated its first mobilization since World War Two, drafting an additional 300,000 men. There have been speculations that Russia may repeat this move, possibly after the upcoming presidential election in March, where Putin is expected to secure another six-year term. However, the Kremlin has repeatedly stated that no further mobilization is necessary due to the hundreds of thousands of men who voluntarily signed contracts last year to become professional soldiers. Both Russia and Ukraine have not disclosed the full extent of their losses during the 22-month war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently stated that his military has proposed mobilizing an additional 450,000-500,000 individuals. The Kyiv parliament has started reviewing a controversial draft legislation that aims to tighten and expand mobilization rules. (with inputs from agencies)

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Vladimir Putin offers citizenship to foreigners who fight for Russia - IndiaTimes