OREANDA-NEWS. Leonid Kalashnikov, the head of the Russian State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, reported that it is expected to significantly reduce the period for accepting Russian citizenship for immigrants from four countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Kazakhstan. According to Kalashnikov, a draft law has already been prepared by the Russian government and will be submitted to the parliament before the end of February.

Now foreigners and stateless persons can apply for Russian citizenship after five years of continuous residence in the country. In addition, the law obliges most applicants to confirm that they have a “legitimate source of livelihood.” According to the parliamentarian, citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Kazakhstan will also be released from this obligation. Besides, the passport holders of these countries would be exempted from the obligation to renounce their citizenship.