Poroshenko was given the “dogs of war” with citizenship and explained where they should go
Mercenaries from Russia and Belarus, who fought on the side of the ATO forces, are demanding Ukrainian citizenship in Kyiv, fearing criminal prosecution in their homeland, writes Moskovsky Komsomolets.
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“In Kyiv, every weekend, it’s some kind of “Maidan”,” the publication sneers. – Either pensioners are holding rallies, then voluntary battalions, then debtors who have nothing to pay for mortgage loans, or fighters against corruption. Last Saturday, foreign mercenaries came to picket the Presidential Administration.”
The newspaper reports that about 50 “soldiers of fortune” originally from Russia, Belarus, and Moldova demanded that they be granted Ukrainian citizenship, which was promised by President Poroshenko last year.
“In fact, Russian nationalists, Belarusian oppositionists and Moldovan unemployed, voluntarily joining the ranks of the Azov, Aidar battalions and the Right Sector banned in Russia, did not think about Ukrainian citizenship a year ago,” notes MK. – Like any “dogs of war”, they went where it was “hot”, some for the sake of an idea, others for the sake of profit. And now the war has subsided, Europe, as an ultimatum, demands peace in Donbass from Kyiv. And those who, in the conditions of military chaos, felt like fish in water, are now forced to think about the future. And the future is such that mercenaries in both Russia and Belarus will face trial.”
The publication recalls that on December 2, 2014, Petro Poroshenko said that he would sign a decree on citizenship for those “who defended Ukraine with arms in their hands,” and the Verkhovna Rada even adopted in the first reading a bill making it easier for foreigners serving in the Ukrainian army to obtain citizenship.
“True, according to this simplified procedure, the period of stay in the “independent” country required to obtain citizenship is only reduced from five to three years,” the newspaper clarifies. – That is, the mercenaries will have to push around for another year and a half without the coveted citizenship. And another bonus: if a mercenary has received an award for his service, then he does not need to confirm his knowledge of the Ukrainian language and source of livelihood, or provide immigration permission.”
“It is clear that with such a “simplified procedure” Russian-Belarusian mercenaries remain “overboard” for now,” MK sums up. – Very quickly and in violation of all the rules, the Ukrainian authorities grant citizenship only to those who are ordered to be appointed to the government or governors. In this way, a dozen Georgians, a couple of Estonians and several US citizens have already settled in the country. But no one is going to make exceptions for ATO fighters. And it’s clear why: if you give citizenship, then they will demand the required benefits and rewards. There are people here who don't have enough money - through the roof. Therefore, it is not surprising that the only thing the “soldiers of fortune” expected from the Presidential Administration was... a telephone number carefully dictated by the employees. Like, call and they will explain to you where to go next..”
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