The Verkhovna Rada supported the bill on multiple citizenship in the first reading. 247 MPs voted for bill No. 11469 as the basis, with a minimum of 226.
This was announced by Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of the Verkhovna Rada from the Holos faction, on his Telegram channel, Ukrainian News Agency reports.
The bill, in particular, establishes permissible cases of multiple citizenship (nationality) of Ukraine.
Multiple citizenship (nationality) is allowed in the following cases:
- simultaneous acquisition by a child of Ukrainian citizenship and citizenship (nationality) of another state or states by birth;
- acquisition by a child who is a citizen of Ukraine of the citizenship (nationality) of his adoptive parents as a result of his adoption by foreigners;
- automatic acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine of another citizenship (nationality) as a result of marriage to a foreigner;
- automatic acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine who has reached the age of majority of another citizenship (nationality) as a result of the application of the legislation on citizenship of a foreign state, if such a citizen of Ukraine has not received a document confirming the existence of citizenship (nationality) of another state;
- acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner by foreigners who are citizens (nationals) of states included in the list of states whose citizens (nationals) acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner;
- acquisition by a citizen of Ukraine of citizenship (nationality) of states included in the list of states whose citizens (nationals) acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner.
At the same time, the bill provides for the assignment of the Cabinet of Ministers to develop a bill on the list of states whose citizens acquire citizenship of Ukraine in a simplified manner.
The simplified procedure for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners who are citizens (nationals) of states included in the list of states whose citizens (nationals) acquire Ukrainian citizenship in a simplified procedure consists in submitting by such persons, when acquiring Ukrainian citizenship, a declaration of recognition of themselves as a citizen of Ukraine.
Others must submit a declaration of renunciation of foreign citizenship and recognition of themselves only as a citizen of Ukraine.
Multiple citizenship (subjectivity) is not allowed in cases of registration of acquisition of citizenship of Ukraine or acceptance into citizenship of Ukraine, or renewal of citizenship of Ukraine in respect of a person who is a citizen of a state recognized by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as an aggressor state or an occupation state, or a state that does not recognize the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, or refuses to recognize the illegality of encroachments on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, in particular, voted against the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations "On the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine" dated March 27, 2014 No. 68/262.
The bill also provides for a simplified procedure for acquiring citizenship of Ukraine for persons who have outstanding merits before Ukraine; persons whose acceptance into citizenship of Ukraine is of state interest to Ukraine; persons who are undergoing or have undergone military service under a contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In particular, they have the right to acquire Ukrainian citizenship without certifying the level of proficiency in the state language, provided that they submit an obligation to pass exams on the basics of the Constitution of Ukraine, the history of Ukraine and the level of proficiency in the state language.
Such persons are obliged to master the state language at the level determined by law within three years from the date of acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.
They are also not subject to the requirement of continuous residence in the territory of Ukraine for the past five years.
The explanatory note to the bill notes that the concept of "multiple citizenship" is part of the national legislation of Ukraine in accordance with the European Convention on Nationality ratified by the law of Ukraine, which establishes the principles and rules relating to the citizenship of individuals, in particular the concept of "multiple citizenship", which means the simultaneous belonging of a person to the citizenship of two or more states.
It is expected that the adoption of the law will ensure the implementation of European principles of the functioning of the institution of citizenship, will contribute to the improvement of state policy in the field of citizenship in order to ensure the conditions for the return of Ukrainian citizens who were forced to leave the territory of Ukraine due to russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, and to preserve their Ukrainian citizenship.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, in January, Zelenskyy had already submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada on the introduction of multiple citizenship.
In February, the main profile committee of the Verkhovna Rada on human rights, de-occupation and reintegration of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, national minorities and interethnic relations recommended that the parliament adopt the President's bill on the introduction of multiple citizenship as a basis, but the Rada never considered it at its meeting.
According to Article 4 of the Constitution of Ukraine, there is a single citizenship in Ukraine, the grounds for acquiring and termination of Ukrainian citizenship are determined by law.
Amendments to the Constitution are not possible during martial law.
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