Russia Strengthens Citizenship Law to Target ‘Hostile’ Acts

Russia’s citizenship law has undergone major changes in 2025, marking a significant shift in how the country manages who can become, and remain, a Russian citizen. These changes, signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, have expanded the list of reasons why someone who became a citizen through naturalization can lose their Russian citizenship. At the same time, the law has made it easier for certain groups, especially those living in territories under Russian control, to get citizenship quickly. This update explains the main changes, what they mean in practice, and how they might affect different groups of people.

Summary of the Changes

The most important change in Russia’s citizenship law is the large increase in the number of offenses that can lead to the loss of naturalized citizenship. Before, only a few crimes could result in someone losing their Russian citizenship. Now, there are 72 specific offenses that can trigger revocation. These include serious crimes like murder, terrorism, and violent acts, but also cover a wide range of activities that the Russian government sees as threats to national security. The law is especially focused on what it calls “hostile” acts, which can include working with foreign organizations that Russia considers unfriendly, or even making public statements that the government believes undermine the country’s security.

At the same time, the law has made it easier for some people to become Russian citizens, especially those living in places like Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and parts of Ukraine that are under Russian control. For these groups, the process to get citizenship is much faster and simpler than for most other applicants.

Expanded Revocation Grounds

One of the most striking features of the new law is the much longer list of reasons why naturalized citizens can lose their Russian citizenship. The law now lists 72 offenses, which is a big jump from the previous rules. Some of the main grounds for revocation include:

• Extremism and terrorism: This covers not just committing acts of terrorism, but also calling for terrorist acts, justifying or spreading terrorist ideas, and helping others to do so.
• Serious crimes: Murder, violent crimes (including those against children), causing serious injury, and even involuntary manslaughter are now grounds for losing citizenship.
• Crimes against the state: This includes working with foreign countries or international organizations that Russia sees as hostile, or helping with activities that the government believes threaten national security.
• Attacks on critical infrastructure: Any illegal actions that harm Russia’s important information systems can lead to revocation.
• Promotion of Nazi symbols: Publicly showing or promoting Nazi symbols is also included.
• Assisting hostile activities: Even knowingly helping with activities that the government says undermine Russia’s security, or calling for actions against the state, can result in losing citizenship.

These changes mean that naturalized citizens now face a much higher risk of losing their Russian citizenship if they are accused or convicted of any of these offenses. The law gives Russian authorities broad powers to decide what counts as a “hostile” act or a threat to national security.

Policy Rationale and Government Perspective

Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have said that these changes are needed to protect the country’s security and independence. They argue that, with growing foreign hostility and internal threats, Russia needs stronger tools to prevent people who might act against the country’s interests from becoming or remaining citizens. The government has also said that the naturalization process was being abused by some people who did not have Russia’s best interests at heart.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Russian government’s focus on national security has shaped many of the recent changes in citizenship law. The authorities believe that by tightening the rules, they can better control who is allowed to become a Russian citizen and remove those who are seen as a threat.

Territorial Focus and Simplified Acquisition

While the law has become stricter for many people, it has also made it easier for some groups to get Russian citizenship. This is especially true for people living in territories that are under Russian control or influence, such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and parts of Ukraine like Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

For example, as of May 17, 2025, residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia who had “citizen” status as of August 26, 2008, can apply for Russian citizenship through a very simple process. All they need to do is submit a formal request, and they do not have to meet the usual requirements like living in Russia for a certain number of years or passing a language test.

The Russian Interior Ministry has reported that, as of August 2024, it had issued 2.2 million Russian passports to residents of occupied Ukrainian territories since October 2022. However, these numbers have not been independently verified.

Procedural Details: How Revocation and Acquisition Work

The new law is very clear that only naturalized citizens—those who became Russian citizens after birth—can have their citizenship revoked under these rules. People who were born Russian citizens are not affected by the revocation provisions.

The process for revoking citizenship starts if a person is convicted of one of the listed offenses. Legal proceedings are required, and in some cases, a presidential decree is needed to finalize the revocation. This means that the decision is not automatic, but the authorities have a lot of power to decide when and how to use this tool.

For those seeking to become Russian citizens, the law still allows certain groups to use simplified procedures. These include:

• IT specialists
• People who have done something special for Russia (persons of special merit)
• Residents of occupied territories

These groups can often skip some of the usual requirements, such as living in Russia for a set period or passing a Russian language test.

One important legal safeguard remains in place: the law bans the expulsion or extradition of Russian citizens to other countries, even if their citizenship is revoked. This means that, in theory, people who lose their citizenship cannot be forced to leave Russia or handed over to another country.

Implications and Practical Effects

The changes to Russia’s citizenship law have several important effects for different groups of people.

For Naturalized Citizens

Naturalized citizens now face a much higher risk of losing their Russian citizenship if they are accused or convicted of any of the 72 listed offenses. This creates a lot of uncertainty, especially for people who are politically active, work in sensitive fields, or come from backgrounds that the government might see as suspicious. The broad language of the law means that authorities have a lot of discretion in deciding who is targeted.

For example, someone who attends a protest or speaks out against the government could, in theory, be accused of “undermining Russia’s security” or “calling for actions against the state.” If convicted, they could lose their citizenship, even if they have lived in Russia for many years and have built their lives there.

For Residents of Occupied Territories

The expedited citizenship process for people living in places like Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and occupied parts of Ukraine is seen by many as a way for Russia to strengthen its control over these areas. By making it easy for residents to become Russian citizens, the government can increase its influence and integrate these populations more closely with Russia.

However, there are concerns that some people may feel pressured or even forced to take Russian citizenship, especially if it is tied to access to services, jobs, or legal rights. Critics argue that this use of citizenship as a political tool can create problems for people who may not want to give up their original citizenship or who feel caught between different governments.

For Foreign Nationals Seeking Russian Citizenship

The law has made it both easier and harder for different groups of foreign nationals to become Russian citizens. Some categories, like IT specialists or people with special skills, can still use simplified procedures. But for others, the path has become more difficult, with some previously available routes now closed.

This means that people who are thinking about applying for Russian citizenship need to carefully check whether they qualify under the new rules and what steps they need to take.

Expert and Stakeholder Perspectives

The Russian government has defended the changes as necessary for national security. Officials say that the expanded list of offenses and the ability to revoke citizenship are needed to prevent people who might harm Russia from becoming or remaining citizens.

On the other hand, human rights groups and international observers have raised serious concerns about the new law. They argue that the rules are too broad and could be used to target people for political reasons, such as activists, journalists, or members of certain ethnic or national groups. There are also worries about due process—whether people accused of these offenses will get a fair hearing—and about the risk of statelessness if someone loses their Russian citizenship and has no other nationality.

Legal experts point out that the law’s vague definitions, such as “hostile acts” or “collaboration with hostile organizations,” give authorities a lot of room to interpret the rules as they see fit. This could lead to arbitrary or politically motivated decisions.

Historical Context and Development

The changes to Russia’s citizenship law are part of a bigger overhaul of the country’s migration and citizenship policies that began in 2019. Since then, there have been several rounds of amendments and debates, with the current law representing the most comprehensive update so far.

The law officially came into force 180 days after it was published, on October 26, 2023. However, it has been amended and expanded several times since then, especially in response to changing security concerns and geopolitical events.

Future Outlook and Pending Changes

The law gives President Vladimir Putin expanded powers to decide who can use simplified citizenship procedures. This means that more changes are likely in the future, as the government responds to new challenges or opportunities.

Given the ongoing tensions between Russia and other countries, it is possible that the list of offenses leading to revocation could be expanded even further, or that new restrictions could be added for certain groups of applicants.

Practical Guidance and Next Steps

For anyone affected by these changes, or thinking about applying for Russian citizenship, it is important to:

• Check the latest official information: The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs is the main government body responsible for citizenship matters. Their website provides updates and official forms. You can visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Main Directorate for Migration Affairs for more details.
• Consult legal experts: Given the complexity and frequent changes in the law, it is a good idea to seek advice from specialized legal consultancies, such as Confidence Group, which can help explain the rules and guide you through the process.
• Understand your rights and risks: If you are a naturalized citizen, be aware of the expanded list of offenses that could lead to revocation. If you are applying for citizenship, make sure you know which procedures apply to your situation.

Case Studies and Examples

To better understand how these changes might play out in real life, consider the following scenarios:

• Case 1: A naturalized citizen accused of “hostile acts”
  Maria, who became a Russian citizen five years ago, attends a public demonstration against a new government policy. She is later accused of making statements that the authorities say “undermine Russia’s security.” Under the new law, if she is convicted, she could lose her citizenship, even though she has lived in Russia for many years and has no other nationality.

• Case 2: A resident of occupied territory seeking citizenship
  Ivan lives in Donetsk, a region of Ukraine now under Russian control. He applies for Russian citizenship through the expedited process, which only requires a formal request. He receives his Russian passport within a few months, giving him access to Russian services and legal protections. However, he worries about how this might affect his status in Ukraine and whether he will be able to travel freely in the future.

• Case 3: An IT specialist applying for citizenship
  Li, an IT specialist from China, is offered a job in Russia. Under the simplified procedure for IT professionals, she can apply for citizenship without meeting the usual residency or language requirements. She is able to get her Russian passport quickly, but she is careful to avoid any activities that might be seen as “hostile” by the authorities, given the new rules.

Legal Safeguards and Appeals

While the law gives the government broad powers, there are still some legal safeguards in place. People who are facing revocation of their citizenship have the right to appeal the decision in court. However, given the broad language of the law and the power of the authorities, it is not clear how effective these appeals will be in practice.

The law also maintains a strict ban on expelling or extraditing Russian citizens to other countries, even if their citizenship is revoked. This means that, in theory, people who lose their citizenship cannot be forced to leave Russia. However, their legal status and rights within Russia may become very uncertain.

International Reactions and Human Rights Concerns

The changes to Russia’s citizenship law have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and international observers. They argue that the law could be used to silence dissent and target people for political reasons. There are also concerns about the risk of creating stateless people—those who have no citizenship in any country—if someone loses their Russian citizenship and has no other nationality.

Some countries and international organizations have called on Russia to ensure that the law is applied fairly and that people’s rights are protected. They have also urged the Russian government to clarify the definitions of key terms like “hostile acts” to prevent abuse.

Summary Table: Major Changes in Russian Citizenship Law (2025)

Where to Find More Information

For those seeking the latest updates or needing to start an application, the official Russian government portal provides legal texts and news about citizenship law changes. Legal consultancies like Confidence Group can also help with questions about the new rules and how they might affect you.

Conclusion

Russia’s new citizenship law, signed by President Vladimir Putin, marks a major change in how the country manages citizenship. By expanding the list of offenses that can lead to revocation and making it easier for some groups to get citizenship, the law reflects the government’s focus on national security and control. However, the broad language and wide powers given to the authorities have raised concerns about fairness, due process, and the risk of political abuse.

If you are a naturalized citizen, a resident of a territory under Russian control, or a foreign national thinking about applying for Russian citizenship, it is important to stay informed about the latest rules and seek expert advice. The law is complex and continues to evolve, so keeping up to date is the best way to protect your rights and make informed decisions about your future.

For more information, always refer to official sources and consult with legal professionals who specialize in Russian citizenship law.