35,000 Tajiks reportedly obtained Russian citizenship last year.
Citing Russia's Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova, Fergana news agency reports that 221,100 foreign nationals have obtained Russian citizenship in January-August this year.
According to Moskalkova, most applications have come from nationals of the CIS member nations such as Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Moldova.
Moskalkova noted that in connection with amendments simplifying acquisition of the Russian citizenship, the number of complaints related to citizenship and migration affairs had decreased.
According to the statistical data from the Russian Interior Ministry, the number of foreigners obtaining the Russian citizenship has doubled over the past five years – from 135,000 in 2013 to 269,000 in 2018.
Last year, the Russian citizenship was granted to 83,000 citizens of Ukraine, 45,000 citizens of Kazakhstan, 35,000 citizens of Tajikistan, 27,000 citizens of Armenia and 21,000 citizens of Uzbekistan.
This year, Russia has reportedly simplified the procedure of granting citizenship to highly qualified specialists. The procedure of granting Russian citizenship has also been simplified for citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Syria who were born in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (in Soviet time).
The new simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship came into force for select categories of foreign nationals on March 29, 2019.
According to the amendments, the Russian President can determine on humanitarian grounds categories of foreign nationals who can obtain citizenship status through the simplified procedure.
The amendments also provide for a simplified procedure for foreigners who participate in the State program for facilitating the voluntary resettlement in the Russian Federation of ethnic Russians living abroad.
