More and more Tajikistanis continue turning into Russians. Over the first quarter of this year alone, more than 33,000 Tajiks have received Russian passports.
According to data provided by the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation, 33,084 nationals of Tajikistan have obtained Russian citizenship, which is 64.61 percent more than in tea me period last year. In January-March 2021, 20,088 Tajiks reportedly obtained Russian citizenship.
The Russia Interior Ministry adds that that 101,704 other Tajik nationals have obtained a Russian permanent residence permit. It means that they are on the verge of getting the Russian citizenship, and most likely, they will become Russian nationals already this year.
A Russian permanent residence permit has a five-year validity period and can be extended without any limitation. However, just like the temporary residence visa, it must be authenticated on an annual basis.
Besides, 47,941 other Tajik nationals have temporary residence permits, which is the first step to obtaining citizenship.
In all, 141,663 foreign nationals have obtained Russian citizenship over the first quarter of this year. The top five countries whose nationals obtained Russia citizenship over the reporting period are Ukraine – 54,641, Tajikistan – 33,084, Kazakhstan – 10,909, Armenia – 10,877, and Uzbekistan – 6,509.
According to data from the Russian Interior Ministry, 735,400 foreign nationals obtained Russian citizenship in 2021. The top five countries whose nationals obtained Russia citizenship last year are Ukraine – 375,989 people, Tajikistan — 103,681, Kazakhstan – 49,862, Armenia – 46,931, and Uzbekistan – 31,867.
Recall, member of the State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) also leader of A Just Russia – For Truth Party, Sergey Mironov, last month called on the Russian authorities to temporarily suspend giving on citizenship to Tajiks.
In a statement posted on the party’s official website on April 7, Mironov, particular, notes, “More than half of recipients of Russian passports are from Donbass. Everything is clear, there are no questions. Another figure is shocking: 14 percent or 103,000 “new Russians” have come from Tajikistan. I have great respect for the people of this country, but let’s be clear: the vast majority of visitors from Tajikistan do not know well – if they know at all – our language, culture, traditions. They do not have high or even middle qualification. For them, getting our citizenship is a direct benefit. And what is the benefit for Russia?”
Mironov notes that statistics of muss “russification” of residents of Tajikistan makes it possible to assess the extent of corruption in the Interior Ministry’s migration subdivisions.
He proposes to introduce “a temporary moratorium on granting Russian citizenship to residents of Tajikistan – for example until the end of 2023.”
