Russian authorities have taken a tough stance against individuals who commit crimes within the first six months of receiving Russian citizenship. According to TASS, citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 398 former foreigners had their citizenship revoked due to their criminal activities.
This new law, which took effect on October 26, 2023, allows for the deprivation of citizenship for various offenses such as discrediting the Russian army, spreading fake information, sabotage, defection, calls for anti-Russian sanctions, espionage, treason, violation of laws on foreign agents and hooliganism.
The first case of citizenship deprivation occurred two months after the law was enacted when two individuals were arrested for drug possession. After court judgments were made, they were subsequently stripped of their Russian citizenship. This marks a new era where citizenship in Russia can be revoked for a range of offenses.
Overall, this development serves as a warning to those who may consider engaging in criminal activities after obtaining Russian citizenship. It highlights the stricter enforcement of citizenship regulations in Russia and underscores the importance of respecting the laws and values of any country one chooses to call home.
