A new bill has been submitted for consideration to the State Duma (Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) that would allow the Russian government to revoke citizenship from individuals who evade military registration. The draft law, which has been published in the Duma’s electronic database, is reportedly aimed at tightening regulations regarding military service obligations.
The bill was presented by the State Duma Defense Committee head Andrei Kartapolov, the head of the State Duma Commission Investigating Foreign Interference in Russia's Internal Affairs Vasily Piskaryov, and a number of other deputies.
According to the explanatory note, the proposed amendments are intended to improve the effectiveness of agencies responsible for military registration and internal affairs. The key provision of the bill suggests that individuals who evade military registration "without a valid reason" could have their Russian passports revoked.
If a person is found to be in violation, the military registration and enlistment office will have five days to notify the Interior Ministry, which will then decide on the potential revocation of citizenship. The individual will have 30 days to voluntarily report to the military registration and enlistment office. If they comply within this period, they will not lose their citizenship.
The bill builds on a law passed in August 2024, which made failure to register for military service a basis for the loss of acquired citizenship. However, the specific mechanism for enforcing this new law had not been defined until now, according to RBC.
"These amendments will increase the efficiency of cooperation between relevant law enforcement agencies and those responsible for military registration," the explanatory note states.
In August 2024, President Vladimir Putin signed a law requiring foreign nationals who acquire Russian citizenship to register for military service. Failure to comply with this obligation could lead to the loss of citizenship.
The current bill also includes provisions that would allow the government to strip citizenship from the children of foreign nationals who obtained Russian passports.
Recent government actions, including raids on mosques, markets, and other places where foreign nationals gather, have resulted in the deportation of some individuals. Additionally, men of conscription age who have recently acquired Russian citizenship are receiving military summons.
In May of this year, Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, announced that more than 20,000 foreigners who received Russian citizenship are currently fighting in the war against Ukraine, according to The Insider.
Furthermore, a separate bill is being discussed in the State Duma, which expands the grounds for stripping citizenship. In addition to crimes such as banditry and treason, the bill proposes new grounds, including collaboration with foreign governments against Russia's interests, promoting Nazi symbols, and threatening national security.
