Ukraine simplifies granting of citizenship to foreigners who fought in Donbas

Such a decision was made at a government meeting on Friday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk wrote on Twitter.

"We have approved a mechanism for them obtaining a temporary residence permit in Ukraine, which is the first step for obtaining citizenship," he said.

On June 6, 2019, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law simplifying the granting of Ukrainian citizenship to foreign volunteer fighters. The document is intended to regulate the issue of recognizing foreigners and stateless persons who defended the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine as those who stay legally on the territory of Ukraine. It also provides for the introduction of a simplified procedure for granting citizenship to such persons or issuing a permit for temporary residence in Ukraine at the time of participation in the protection of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.

In addition, the law must protect the rights and legitimate interests of foreigners who have defended the territorial integrity of Ukraine and are citizens of the aggressor state or other states that do not recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and therefore their voluntary or forced return to their country of nationality will violate their rights.

The law came into force on August 25, 2019.

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