Multiple Citizenship: Zelensky's Proposals, Changes to Legislation and Loss of Ukrainian Citizenship for Obtaining a Russian Passport

Almost half of Ukrainians do not support the introduction of multiple citizenship.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, during his annual address to the Verkhovna Rada, announced legislative regulation of multiple citizenship in Ukraine.

After that, he submitted a number of relevant bills to the Rada, and KMIS published the results of a sociological survey, which showed that 48% of Ukrainian citizens oppose introducing more than one citizenship in Ukraine. 

Details of the bills

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a number of bills aimed at countering threats to national security in the sphere of citizenship.

The text of the bill submitted by Volodymyr Zelensky on December 2 does not use the terms «dual citizenship» or «multiple citizenship».

The documents were developed in pursuance of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of February 26, 2021 «On Urgent Measures to Counter Threats to National Security in the Sphere of Citizenship».

In particular, a draft law « On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine «On Citizenship of Ukraine» » aimed at ensuring legal certainty in the state's attitude toward Ukrainian citizens who hold citizenship (nationality) of other states has been submitted to parliament.

The document updates provisions of legislation in the sphere of citizenship and specifies the powers of state bodies involved in resolving issues of Ukrainian citizenship.

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

Thus, we will regulate issues related to dual citizenship. The value of Ukrainian citizenship must grow: a Ukrainian passport must be a guarantee of free and safe travel around the world, and a Ukrainian must feel protected in any country and know that his state stands guard over his rights and interests.

The bill also contains legal grounds for verifying the accuracy of information provided in declarations, and for countering the use of another state's citizenship as a tool of interference in Ukraine's internal affairs and encroachment on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.

Together with it, a related bill « On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (regarding liability for violating legislation in the sphere of citizenship) » was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, which proposes establishing administrative liability for untimely submission or failure to submit by a declarant a declaration of holding citizenship (nationality) of a foreign state, being in the process of acquiring or terminating citizenship of a foreign state, etc.

Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine

All politicians and officials who fill out electronic declarations under the law on preventing corruption must necessarily indicate the presence of citizenship or nationality of other states. If a person authorized to perform state or local government functions is also a citizen of another state, they must honestly report this — Ukrainian society has the right to know. Deliberate attempts to conceal the fact of dual citizenship must entail criminal liability.

In addition, the president submitted to the Rada for consideration a bill « On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine «On the Judiciary and the Status of Judges» regarding the prevention and countering of threats to Ukraine's national security in the sphere of citizenship».

«We propose to establish restrictions on holding positions in the judicial authorities for citizens of Ukraine who have or have acquired citizenship of another state», said Volodymyr Zelensky.

Grounds for loss of Ukrainian citizenship

The new bill also introduces mechanisms for stripping Ukrainian citizenship.

Article 20 of the bill provides for the following grounds for loss of Ukrainian citizenship:

• use by an adult citizen of Ukraine who holds citizenship (nationality) of a foreign state of a foreign passport document on the territory of Ukraine, resulting in threats to national security and the national interests of Ukraine;
• obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by a person through the submission of false information, forged documents, failure to fulfill an obligation to terminate foreign citizenship, etc.;
  
• establishment of the fact of military service under a contract in a state recognized by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as an aggressor state or occupying state, by persons who, at the time of military service, held Ukrainian citizenship.
  

The bill provides for «preserving Ukrainian citizenship regardless of the place of residence of a Ukrainian citizen». At the same time, a Ukrainian citizen permanently residing abroad may renounce Ukrainian citizenship upon his application.

Among other things, it is planned to enter all data related to citizenship into the Unified State Demographic Register.

Survey results

Almost half of Ukrainians do not support the idea of introducing dual or multiple citizenship in Ukraine, according to the results of a survey Democratic Initiatives conducted jointly with KMIS from October 22 to November 12

48% of respondents do not support the idea of introducing dual or multiple citizenship in Ukraine at all.

At the same time, 24% are in favor of the possibility of introducing dual (multiple) citizenship for all countries without exception;

11% support this idea if dual citizenship is allowed only with EU and NATO member states.

At the same time, 7% of respondents could support introducing multiple citizenship with all countries except Russia.

Almost 5% are in favor of dual citizenship only with former Soviet republics, and another 5% found it difficult to decide on an answer.