A group of deputies of the Parliament supports the early resumption of procedures for issuing Russian citizenship

Sukhum. September 11. Apsnypress. The appeal says: In November will be a year since the signing by the presidents Raul Khadjimba and Vladimir Putin, the agreement "On the alliance and strategic partnership. This comprehensive document ratified by the parliaments of the two countries is now filled with concrete content. As acknowledged experts, the new Treaty allowed to bring bilateral relations to a qualitatively different level. Undoubtedly, the highest priority are articles designed to ensure reliable security guarantees for Abkhazia. But equally important, in our view, is Article 13 of the Treaty, according to which, the Russian side undertakes to "take further measures aimed at facilitating the acquisition of citizenship of the Russian Federation by citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia". 

In the early 2000s, when the country embarked on the formulation of citizenship of the Russian Federation, not all were able to submit the required documents on time. According to preliminary data, about 20% of the republic's residents now have Russian citizenship. Meanwhile, its absence creates a lot of problems purely of humanitarian and social nature: persons of retirement age are unable to receive Russian pensions increased, young people can not move freely around the world. We know that because of the lack of passports of the Russian Federation, tours of our renowned dance ensembles to foreign countries break, their skills can not show well-known artists and actors. But the trip of our artists is a missed opportunity in terms of popularization of Abkhazia in the world, explore its ancient history and unique culture. 

At the stage of preparation of the Treaty of alliance and strategic partnership, many citizens of our republic have been informed of its inclusion in the article on the resumption of the issuance of Russian citizenship and, of course, counting on the imminent start of the procedure for filing the necessary documents. However, effective steps to implement Article 13 of the Treaty has not yet been taken. 

We hope that the competent authorities of the Russian Federation with the support of public authorities of Abkhazia in the near future will start practical implementation of this article. At the same time, we want to emphasize that to obtain Russian citizenship can only citizens of the Republic of Abkhazia. 

For our part, we are ready to assist in drawing up lists of persons who do not have Russian citizenship. This work we have already started. The data indicates that the number of people in Abkhazia who wish to obtain citizenship of the Russian Federation, close to 15 thousand people".

Deputies of the People's Assembly of the Parliament of the Republic of Abkhazia: V. V. Agrba, L.M. Galustyan, T.L. Gulia, B.Sh. Gubaz, M.P. Sangulia, S.M. Shamba, R.A. Yaylyan.