To participate in elections and service in the army: why the authorities mentioned multiple citizenship

The document concerns ethnic Ukrainians who, during the period of various waves of emigration, forced their homeland and live in other countries. And also foreign volunteers who are fighting for Ukraine today, on the basis of which they can claim Ukrainian citizenship. The exception in the bill will be citizens of the Russian Federation - they are not possible for them to receive a Ukrainian passport as a second or third.

The topic of double and multiple citizenship is not discussed for the first time. The fact that this issue will be settled in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke during an inaugural speech in May 2019. Six months later, the President registered the relevant bill in parliament. It was not considered in the session hall, since the document had comments from the Main Scientific and Expert Department of the Verkhovna Rada.

They argued that the bill would lead to the spread in Ukraine of "legitimate dual citizenship", which is contrary to the Constitution. Next time, the President tried to make his promise for dual citizenship in December 2021. "I know how important it is to Ukrainians living in the USA, Canada, and EU issues of multiple citizenship. For the first time, Ukrainians from all over the world will not be felt by a diaspora. Not just people of Ukrainian origin, but Ukrainian citizenship.

Equal Ukrainians," Zelensky said on December 1 time of speech in parliament. At the same time, the President registered a number of draft laws. However, their consideration was paused. This time - because of the full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation in February 2022. Today, according to experts, the topic of dual or multiple citizenship is more relevant for Ukraine, since due to the continuing military actions the issue of demography becomes critical.

Focus interlocutors have repeatedly noted that some European countries would like migrants from Ukraine to stay after the war. For example, Germany, where more than 1 million Ukrainians live since the Great War, simplified the process of obtaining citizenship in the summer of 2023. "According to migration data, a person who has spent more than five years abroad, with 90% probability does not return home.

We do not know when hostilities will end, but Ukrainians are trying to get fixed abroad," the president said focus Vasily Voskoboynik, All -Ukrainian Association of International Employment Companies. According to the Center for Economic Strategy (CES), even after the war, Ukraine may not return from 1. 3 million to 3. 3 million citizens. Sociology shows that most Ukrainians - about 70% will return home after hostilities are completed. In practice, cases can be much worse.

"The President has returned to multiple citizenship for several reasons. First of all, it is an attempt to preserve Ukrainians who live in the EU and no longer think about returning. According to cautious assessments of sociologists, this is about a third Everything is possible to obtain new citizenship and become entrenched.

Therefore, if Ukraine allows multiple citizenship, it will not lose some of those for whom the Ukrainian passport will have no value in the future, " - said political scientist Oleg Posternak in a conversation with focus. The second reason why the President returned to the topic of multiple citizenship is the opportunity to consolidate ethnic Ukrainians living around the world.

Experts say that such a policy will increase the number of citizens, albeit symbolic - is hardly ethnic Ukrainians who live, for example, in Canada, will come to live in Ukraine in a difficult demographic situation after the war. "The idea was initially associated with the restoration of historical justice, to enable the Diaspora representatives to obtain citizenship. It is already obvious that, as a result of the war, Ukraine will face a serious demographic crisis.

The situation was so problematic and can now become critical. This law will allow a huge part of Ukrainians to combine work and life in Ukraine and abroad. In addition, it will allow people who want to live and work with us, get that opportunity. And we have to take advantage of it. For example, many Ukrainian women who Men will go abroad, they can be attracted to Ukraine by giving the opportunity to obtain citizenship, "says political scientist Vladimir Fesenko focus.

Electoral interest is not the last role in actualizing the topic of multiple citizenship, Posternak says. Although the elections will not be held during the war, somehow they will ever happen. And the more owners of Ukrainian passports can be included in the voters' lists, the better. "This issue is debatable, but if people have citizenship, they will vote. This is one of the reasons that indicates the feasibility of the bill," the expert adds.

While the text of the bill is not present, experts can only assume how the document regulates a number of issues related to multiple citizenship. These include mobilization, military duty, and suffrage. Whether a citizen of several countries will be able to participate in the elections where he or she will serve in the army, as well as whether he will fall under the call, in the event of a war.

According to Fesenko, all these issues should be additionally prescribed and regulated by bilateral treaties between countries whose citizenship receives. "For example, a person with several citizenships will be able to vote in both countries. And as for the service in the army, the right to choose should be spelled out. If both countries have a rule of military duty, a person must choose where he or she will serve. In the event of a war - the same.

There must be a separate norm - either a reference to the law on mobilization, or - bilateral arrangements. It is simply not possible to call a person living in the territory of another country, even if it has the nationality of another country. - notes the expert. The issue with the multiple citizenship of some people's deputies remains open.

Does the law legalize passports that have been obtained before its adoption? Posternak believes that recently the President's office is increasingly difficult to find votes under key laws, so deputies can "bribe" the possibility of legalization of other citizens. "This is one of the options why people's deputies can promptly adopt a bill - if they are able to legalize their other citizenship. But at the same time, OP hardly want to get a wave of critic ", - adds the political scientist.

As for ethnic Ukrainians who have passports of the Russian Federation, according to Fesenko, if such people live in the territory of Ukraine and can prove their identity, they may be given the right to obtain citizenship. But only in case of rejection of Russian. We will remind, in October 2023 the idea of ​​dual citizenship in Ukraine was supported by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba. According to him, there may be some restrictions on this issue.