This draft law is important for our citizens as well, who temporarily live abroad due to the war, for ethnic Ukrainians who were not born in Ukraine and for those who want to have a passport of our country.
This was stated by Yevheniia Kravchuk, Deputy Head of the Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy, member of the Permanent Delegation to PACE.
«The draft law on multiple citizenship is very important for Ukrainians who have been granted temporary refuge abroad because of the war. In a few years, they will be able to obtain a passport of their residence country. Multiple citizenship for such people is an opportunity not to lose their Ukrainian passport, and for Ukraine not to lose these citizens. At the same time, our refugees are already giving birth to children who can obtain citizenship by birthright in many countries. Therefore, it is important that such children at least have dual citizenship, not just of the host country. For us, this is an opportunity to keep these children within Ukraine’s orbit,» MP said.
According to her, this document is aimed to simplify the process of obtaining Ukrainian citizenship for the people whose countries are our partners. And this is not only about ethnic Ukrainians, but also about citizens of other countries who want to get this opportunity.
«The draft law, as amended, will provide for a simplified format for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship. Most people will be able to retain the citizenship of another country. The exception is citizens of the aggressor countries that oppose our country, and here we are talking not only about russia and belarus, but also, for example, those who voted against Ukraine's sovereignty in UN resolutions. As for the people with russian passports who are fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces, they must renounce their russian citizenship in order to obtain Ukrainian citizenship,» she emphasised.
Yevheniia Kravchuk recalled that Ukrainian legislation already stipulates that certain officials cannot hold multiple citizenship, for example, judges and civil servants. However, over time, a separate bill will have to be adopted to regulate such restrictions.
«Multiple citizenship is a reality today. There are many Ukrainians who have acquired citizenship of other countries but hold a Ukrainian passport, which contradicts the current domestic legislation that prohibits multiple citizenship. Accordingly, the proposed draft law regulates this issue without making millions of our citizens violate the law. We want them to retain their Ukrainian identity,» summed up Yevheniia Kravchuk.