Sergey Mironov, head of the “A Just Russia – For Truth” faction and member of the State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament), has proposed removing the constitutional provision allowing dual citizenship.
“It is time to abandon the institution of dual citizenship. It is time to choose which country you tie your fate to,” Mironov said in an interview with TASS.
From Mironov’s statements, it is unclear whether he refers to second citizenship or dual citizenship — these terms differ.
In the first case, there is no agreement between countries, and the state does not recognize the person’s second passport, considering them solely as its own citizen.
In the second case, there is a treaty or agreement between the countries, and both countries recognize the rights and obligations of the individual as a citizen of each country.
Article 62.1 of the Russian Constitution states that “a citizen of the Russian Federation may have citizenship of a foreign state (dual citizenship) in accordance with federal law or an international treaty of the Russian Federation.”
It should be noted that Russia has a dual citizenship agreement with only one country — Tajikistan. The agreement on regulating dual citizenship issues, signed in September 1995, allows citizens of both countries to hold Russian and Tajik citizenship simultaneously.
Speaking at a government session in the State Duma on February 19 this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the treaty between Russia and Tajikistan “has played and continues to play a very useful role in providing a reliable basis for the alliance” between the two countries and serves the interests of citizens of both Russia and Tajikistan.
Mironov is known for his initiatives aimed at tightening migration policies in Russia. He has repeatedly advocated for restricting migration, claiming that labor migration creates economic and social problems, including cheap labor, which, in his view, suppresses wage growth and hinders technological development.
In early February this year Mironov announced the preparation of a bill that would introduce a state duty on money transfers made by migrants.
Previously, Mironov called for the introduction of a visa regime with several Central Asian countries, arguing that the uncontrolled influx of labor migrants has “flooded the entire country.”
Sergey Mironov (born February 14, 1953) is a Russian politician. He was chairman of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, from 2001 to 2011. He leads the faction A Just Russia in the State Duma.
Mironov was a candidate in the 2004 presidential election. He was not considered to be a serious candidate and was quoted as saying: “We all want Vladimir Putin to be the next president.” He polled less than one per cent of the vote.
He became the leader of the A Just Russia Party in October 2006. This party was formed by uniting Rodina, Mironov's Russian Party of Life, and the Russian Pensioners' Party.
In the March 2012 presidential election, Mironov reportedly received 3.86% of the votes.
