OREANDA-NEWS. July 16, 2008. The decree empowers the Russian Ministry of Education and Science to issue new certificates confirming that applicants for citizenship have sat a state Russian language test. The certificates are issued to foreign citizens and stateless persons applying for Russian Federation citizenship.

The current certificates do not meet modern demands as they do not reflect generally accepted methods for evaluating linguistic ability.

Furthermore, the forms used for the new certificates will offer better anti-fraud protection.