Putin allows foreign military servicemen to apply for Russian citizenship on the fast track

Sep. 24 () –

The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has approved this Saturday a new legislation that allows foreigners who serve the Russian Army the possibility of applying for Russian citizenship on the fast track.

Thus, the Law on Citizenship of the Russian Federation has been amended so that servicemen from outside Russia who have signed a contract of at least one year with the Armed Forces can apply for citizenship without a prior residence permit.

On the other hand, the Russian leader has approved a series of reforms in the Penal Code by virtue of which, from now on, periods of mobilization and martial law are considered as aggravating circumstances in case of having committed crimes, according to TASS .

Thus, those soldiers who refuse to participate in hostilities will be punished with sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Likewise, those who voluntarily surrender to the enemy side could face sentences of up to ten years in prison.

These decisions come just a few days after the president announced the “partial mobilization” of the population and the Ministry of Defense pointed out that some 300,000 reservists could be sent to Ukraine in the framework of the war.

Ukraine has successfully completed several counteroffensive operations in the east of the country, recovering territories hitherto held by Russia. Much of the international community agrees that Russia has suffered heavy casualties in its ranks.