Czech lawmakers move forward with legislation forcing Russian nationals to renounce their Russian citizenship (and show Moscow’s confirmation) before seeking Czech citizenship

Meduza.io

The Czech Parliament has adopted the final draft of legislation requiring Russian nationals to renounce their Russian citizenship before obtaining Czech citizenship. The new mandate also stipulates that Russian officials must first confirm an individual’s citizenship renunciation before he or she can apply for Czech citizenship.

The new rule would likely apply to all Russian nationals except asylum seekers and in certain special cases. Currently, obtaining Czech citizenship requires living in the country for at least 10 years, with at least five years of permanent residency. The new law would also suspend existing applications for Czech citizenship from Russian nationals.

Opposition activists and Russians living in the Czech Republic have criticized the initiative as discriminatory, but protesting the legislation has proved politically difficult because the changes to citizenship rules are folded into a broader law concerning the extension of legal protections for Ukrainian refugees due to expire in March 2025.

Czech Interior Minister and STAN party leader Vit Rakusan claims the measure is not discriminatory because citizenship is not a legal right. “Russia’s actions pose a certain security threat to us. Addressing these threats is not discrimination; it is a duty,” he said.

The bill now heads to lawmakers in the Czech Senate before it is sent to the president for his signature.