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Nearly One Million Russians Have Come Forward to Report Second Citizenship

mediaphoto.org / Wikicommons

Since President Vladimir Putin signed a law last summer requiring Russians with dual citizenship to register with the authorities, upward of 975,000 Russians have come forward to do so, news site Gazeta.ru reported Wednesday, citing Konstantin Romodanovsky, head of the Federal Migration Service.

When the law entered into force, pre-existing dual citizens and Russians who hold permanent residency abroad were given until Oct. 4 of last year to declare their status with the FMS.

Newly acquired foreign passports and residency permits will likewise have to be reported to the Russian government within 60 days of receipt.

Notably, Russians living abroad are exempt from the law.

Failure to register will constitute a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 rubles ($3,500) or up to 400 hours of community service.

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