Russian Parliament Deliberates Suspending Citizenship for Central Asian Migrants for National Security
Sergey Mironov, a prominent member of the Russian State Duma and leader of the “A Just Russia” faction, has put forward a proposal to temporarily halt the granting of Russian citizenship to migrants from Central Asia.
This isn’t the first time that Mironov and his party have suggested such a measure. Back in 2022, “A Just Russia” had already raised the issue, but now, with the ongoing challenges surrounding migration becoming increasingly critical, Mironov feels it is necessary to reexamine this proposal.
In his argument, Mironov emphasized the need for the state to resist the “mass issuance of passports” to foreign workers and to safeguard national security interests. He believes that a temporary moratorium on granting Russian citizenship to individuals from Central Asian countries is essential.
Mironov suggested that this moratorium should be in place at least until 2026. During this period, he believes it is possible to address legislative issues, reform the migration service to combat corruption, and verify the legality of previously issued passports.
In addition to Mironov’s proposal, lawmakers from “A Just Russia” and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia have introduced a series of legislative measures aimed at tightening migration laws and restricting the rights of migrants. These measures include prohibiting migrants from bringing their families to Russia, restricting high-earning couriers from working, and preventing recent Russian citizens from purchasing certain weapons. Other suggestions include revoking citizenship from those who fail to register for military service and requiring migrants to pay upfront for their return tickets to their home countries.
The debate surrounding migration and citizenship issues continues to be a contentious topic in Russian politics, with various parties and lawmakers offering different perspectives on how to address these complex challenges.
