Putin Orders Criminal Record Checks for Russian Citizenship Applicants

© Кремль

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the list of documents required for Russian citizenship applications. Applicants will now need to submit a certificate confirming whether they have a criminal record or not.

Under the new rules, if an applicant has a criminal record, the document must specify the article and circumstances under which the sentence was passed.

However, a temporary exception is made for Ukrainian citizens. Individuals arriving from Ukraine are exempt from this requirement until January 1, 2028.

The new measures aim to clarify the procedure for reviewing citizenship applications and verifying information about applicants.