From: dleschin@FEDS66.PRIME.COM ("", Dmitri Leschiner)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet
Subject: Re: Citizenship laws in Russian Federation.
Date: 28 Sep 92 17:56:51 GMT
Reply-To: "talk.politics.soviet via ListServ" <TPS-L@indycms.iupui.edu>

> Date:         Mon, 28 Sep 1992 08:10:49 GMT
> From: "(Jarmo Ryyti)" <ryyti@JYU.FI>
>
>
> I would be interested in the Citizenship Laws of Russian federation
>

I'll try to help in some of the issues; my knowledge is certainly limited,
so I'll appreciate any corrections or additions from everybody.

> For instance:
>
> 1. Does Russian Citizenship law allows dual citizenship?

As far as I know, foreign citizen which is eligible for Russian citizenship
(for instance, because of place of birth) may acquire Russian citizenship
without giving up his original one. If foreign citizen is not eligible, but
wants to become Russian citizen anyway, he may apply nevertheless, and it may
be granted to him, and, as far as I know, giving up foreign citizenship is not
required either (though in such cases in the past people were usually required
to give up an original citizenship, as a condition to getting Russian one -
but it was not a legal requirement, as far as I know). Russian citizen may
acquire citizenship in other country without giving up his Russian citizenship.

> 2. How long time a citizen of a foreign country should stay
> in Russian Federation before he/she can apply citizenship?

If foreign citizen is a citizen of (former) USSR, he is automatically eligible
for citizenship as soon as he gets legal permanent residence in Russia.

If he is not an USSR citizen, there is no automatic eligibility for citizenship,
regardless of length of stay, but he can apply right away (the next day after
arriving in country), and it may be granted to him (as it was considered for
Lee Harvey Osvald in 1960-ies; he did not take it, finally, though).

> 3. Do a descendant of foreign citizens become automatically
> Russian citizen??

Again; if parents (at least one) were USSR citizen OR had legal permanent
residence in USSR, the answer is probably yes, if child was born (legally)
in Russia. BUT, may be permanent residence _in Russia_ required, I'm not sure.

Otherwise, I'm almost certain, if they were not USSR permanent residents,
but just foreign visitors, their child will not become Russian citizen.

> -if the other parent is not a russian citizen how the citizenship
> is given then, does it follow mathriarchal line or pathriarchal
> line or is it demanded that both parents are russian citizens

It is certain that gender of Russian parent does not matter. I'm not sure of
details of legislation concerning children born while their family did not
have legal permanent residence in Russia. Probably, in that case, if both
parents were Russians, child is still eligible for citizenship.

If family had legal permanent residence in Russia (even if they in fact lived
outside Russia), children will certainly become Russian citizens, if at least
one of parents was Russian.

> 4. Can illegal immigrant stay in Russia and apply for citizenship?

Well, in general, illegal immigrants cannot stay, but must be expelled as
soon as they are discovered. But if they really want to stay _permanently_,
they may apply for it, and expelling may be postponed until decision on
application is made. If decision is positive, they get legal permanent
resident status. Likeliness of positive decision depends heavily of place,
which permanent resident status is asked for. Decision is made, as a rule,
by local authorities. Permanent resident status is always bound to particular
place, for which it is granted, and to change the place of legal residence,
person must apply again. It concerns BOTH Russian citizens and residents.

As soon as he get permanent residence status, he may apply for citizenship
as well.

> 5. Can a foreigner OWN land in Russia?

I think the CURRENT answer is NOT (may be as well as for _citizens_, too):
the problem is that land legislation is not finalized yet. As you may know,
under Soviet rule private land ownership was illegal. I'm not certain which
provisions for foreign land ownership are contained in land law drafts.
I know that there is considerable opposition to foreign land ownership,
probably in parliament, too.

> 6. Can a non-russian speaker demand  that the authorities serve her/him
> in her/his own language?

Providing service in native language is law requirement at territories of
autonomous republics and regions within Russia. If person does not belong
to ethnic group, whose language is official within an autonomous region, or
case happens outside this region, providing service in _his_ native language
is still law requrement, if he is _tried or invetstigated under suspect in
crime_, and demands service in his native language.

> 7. Which are/which is the official language of Russian Federation?

At the territories of autonomous republics and regions - local official
language(s) and Russian language. Outside those territories - Russian language.

>
> -for instance which language is used in the army

In army Russian language is used exclusively.

> -are there army units for the non-russian speakers

Currently, there are not. There were some in Stalin times, but no longer.

> -are the laws translated into the minority languages and in which scale

All laws and decrees translate and publish in Russian and official languages
of all autonomous republics and regions.

In fact, _not all_ ethnic minorities have their own authonomous region.

> -in which scale there is for the non-russian speakers  existing
> education and other services and institututions in theory and praxis-

There is supposed to be an extensive elementary AND middle school education
in official languages of autonomous republics and regions, within its
territories. Also, if there is demand, schools in other languages/territories
may be created, both state and private ones. Some courses in local languages
are offered in colleges as well.

> along the laws and in practise given economical means...
>

In practice, local language edication in Soviet times was quite poor (I'm not
saying that Russian one was good), especially middle and high school one, which
may be considered almost non-existent. Now the situation seems to improve, but
very slowly. A little more progress is achieved in creating schools for really
small and dispersed groups, especially in big cities, like Moscow and St.Peter.

> 8. Why the russian passports name the ethnic orgin of the passport holder?
>

It was supposed for purpose of protection of small ethnicities by bolsheviks
in early 30-ies, and remains since than. Needless to say, in most cases it
failed to protect them from anything, and sometimes served the opposite.
In new Russian identification card (internal passport) that item is eliminated.
There never was one in foreign passports.

> These are some aspects of citizenship matters. Some netters at least of
> Russian origin should give information about those things.
>
> Regards,
> Jarmo Ryyti
>

Dmitry
Xref: sparky talk.politics.soviet:8326 soc.culture.soviet:8397