“They get passports, but don’t want to go to the Northern Military District!” – Zatulin had to defend the Abkhazians in the Duma
The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted today the law “On the ratification of the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Abkhazia on the settlement of issues of dual citizenship,” which gives Russians the opportunity to acquire Abkhazian citizenship without renouncing Russian citizenship, and vice versa.
People who have citizenship of both Russia and Abkhazia will be able to enjoy the rights to social security, education, and medical care in accordance with the legislation of the country in which they permanently reside.
They will also be able to perform military service in their country of residence at the time of conscription. Moreover, after completing compulsory military service in their country, they are exempt from conscription in another country that has become a party to the agreement.
The bill was introduced to the State Duma by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia and Abkhazia signed an agreement in Moscow on September 27, 2022.
In accordance with the agreements, Russia provides people who held Abkhazian citizenship on August 26, 2008 and who did not lose it on the day of filing the application, the right to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. In this case, applicants must be of legal age and legal capacity.
During the discussion, Mikhail Matveev, a deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, expressed concern that Abkhazians receive passports, but do not serve in the Russian army.
“We have, for example, an Agreement on dual citizenship with Tajikistan, as a result of which over the past few years 500 thousand Tajiks have become citizens of the Russian Federation, while most of them have retained their citizenship, and as far as I understand, there are problems associated with conscription Armed Forces and participation in a special military operation,” Matveev said.
United Russia Konstantin Zatulin stood up for the Abkhazians.
“As for conscription, which is, of course, a pressing issue for us in today’s situation. I would like to note that Abkhaz volunteers are taking part in military operations. You probably know about the existence of the “Pyatnashka” brigade, led by Akhra Avidzba, the Hero of Abkhazia, who fights in the ranks of the militia in the Donetsk People’s Republic. And there are already victims; funerals took place on the territory of Abkhazia for those who died during this special military operation, citizens of Abkhazia and at the same time citizens of Russia,” Zatulin said.
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