On May 17, Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, signed a decree introducing a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for citizens of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
According to the decree, citizens permanently residing in Abkhazia or South Ossetia must submit their applications to a Russian diplomatic mission, while those already residing within the Russian Federation are required to apply to the territorial office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at their place of stay, residence, or domicile.
Applicants must provide a set of documents along with their application, including an identity card, proof of citizenship of their respective state, certificates confirming any changes in personal data, and three photographs. In cases involving applications for children or legally incapacitated individuals, additional documents are mandated under the decree.
Notably, in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the majority of the population holds Russian passports, a situation that has been a point of contention with Georgia. The European Union does not recognize Russian passports issued in these regions, viewing them as illegal and a violation of Georgia’s sovereignty. This decree follows a pattern of Russia’s “passportization” policy, which has been used to grant citizenship to residents of separatist regions such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, and eastern Ukraine. The policy aims to create a legal basis for Russia to intervene in these regions under the pretext of protecting its citizens.