Sat, 06 Jun 2026 Berlin 23:57 DE / UKR / EN

Putin Tightens Citizenship Rules: Criminal Record Certificate Required for Russian Applicants

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree requiring foreign nationals and stateless persons to submit a certificate of no criminal record when applying for Russian citizenship. According to the Kyiv Post, simplified naturalization pathways for Ukrainians from occupied territories remain in place.

Putin Tightens Citizenship Rules: Criminal Record Certificate Required for Russian Applicants
Photo: static.kyivpost.com

The new decree, signed by Putin on Tuesday, requires all foreign nationals and stateless persons applying for Russian citizenship to submit documents confirming they have no criminal record – or to disclose existing convictions. The measure is part of a broader initiative by Russian lawmakers to tighten immigration and naturalization rules.

At the same time, simplified procedures for Ukrainians from Russia-occupied territories remain in effect. This special arrangement allows residents of the occupied regions to obtain Russian citizenship under eased conditions – a tool Moscow has systematically used since the start of the war to consolidate its control over the occupied areas.

EuroPulse reported on June 2, 2026, on Putin’s threat against Ukraine following an alleged attack on Starobilsk (https://europulse.today/putin-vergeltung-starobilsk-geschlossene-sitzung/).

Source: www.kyivpost.com