Russia could gain as many as 10 million new outlaws by Oct. 5, once the deadline has passed for dual citizens to declare their status as such to the Federal Migration Service.
President Vladimir Putin signed a law in June requiring Russians with foreign passports to report their second citizenship to the government.
Foreign residency permits must also be reported, ministry official Valentina Kazakova said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday, where the Oct. 4 deadline was announced.
Failure to register will constitute a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 rubles ($5,500) or up to 400 hours of community service.
Russians who live outside the country will not be required to report their status by the Oct. 4 deadline, Kazakova said. In any case, reporting can only be done at the migration service's office. Embassies and consulates are not authorized to handle the job.
But those with multiple passport or foreign residency permits will have to report themselves within 60 days of their first visit to Russia, Kazakova said.
The rule applies even if the holder of two passports pops over to the fatherland for a brief visit — say, the New Year's celebrations, she said.
Russian dual citizens that blow the deadline may be able to get away with a fine of 500-1,000 rubles ($15-30), but are strongly encouraged to register before a criminal case is launched.
At present, it remains unclear how a citizen who misses the deadline due to living abroad will be required to prove that he or she was, indeed, out of the country.
Migration officials and the migration watchdog's press service also failed to immediately clarify whether people who have previously declared their second citizenship status — e.g. in passport applications — would be required to redeclare.
Call center staff at the Federal Migration Service's Moscow office provided conflicting answers to various queries on the issue during separate calls made Thursday, though cohesion appeared to be on the rise as the day progressed.
As many as 10 million people could be affected by the law, according to estimates by the think tank Migration XXI Century in Moscow, cited by RBC Daily news website.
The Russian diaspora worldwide consists of up to 37 million people, including about 17 million living in the former Soviet republics, according to Migration XXI Century.
The dual citizenship bill was introduced by conservative lawmakers with President Vladimir Putin's blessing after Russia's relations with the West began to deteriorate over the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
It is widely seen as being aimed at the potential "fifth column" of Russians living in the EU and the U.S.
"I guess if Catherine the Great were living here now, it would mean she'd have to register as a German citizen," quipped a Muscovite with an American passport she obtained by marriage, in reference to the empress' Teutonic heritage. The woman declined to give her name to avoid trouble with migration authorities.
See also:
Snowden Granted 3-Year Residency Permit by Russia, Lawyers Say
Contact the author at a.eremenko@imedia.ru
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
