The agreement on dual citizenship will enter into force after Russia and separatist South Ossetia exchange instruments of ratification, the de-facto South Ossetian Foreign Ministry said. The agreement will provide the residents of South Ossetia with social protection, as well as provide an opportunity to receive Russian pensions, said de-facto President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov.

The draft agreement with separatist South Ossetia on dual citizenship and a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship was approved by Vladimir Putin on 4 August. Residents of Russia and South Ossetia will be able to have dual citizenship, using social security where they live, following from the agreement

The draft law on the ratification of the agreement between South Ossetia and Russia was adopted at a session of the parliament of the republic.

The agreement will enter into force on the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification. Earlier, the document was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Dmitry Medoev and the Russian Ambassador to South Ossetia Marat Kulakhmetov, the separatist South Ossetian Foreign Ministry said.

According to the text of the agreement, the Russian Federation grants people over 18 years of age who, as of August 26, 2008, were “citizens” of South Ossetia and did not lose it on the day of application, the right to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner, the South Ossetian parliament informed on November 25.

"The document, in fact, is another important step in the implementation of the Russian-South Ossetian Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between South Ossetia and Russia and the Treaty on Alliance and Integration," the head of the legal department of the South Ossetian Foreign Ministry stated in a message on the parliament's website Konstantin Minasov.

The republic has been moving towards signing an agreement with Russia on dual citizenship since 2008 - the moment of recognition of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation said de-facto President of South Ossetia Anatoly Bibilov. According to Bibilov, this agreement will make life easier for the citizens of the republic, will provide them with social protection, and will also provide an opportunity to receive Russian pensions.