Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday (14 November) signed a decree amending the regulations for Russians with a second citizenship to serve in Russia's armed forces.
Russian news agency TASS reported that Russian citizens who also have a foreign citizenship or a residence permit of another country could now be drafted into the Russian army, following Putin's decree.
Previously, Russian citizens could serve in the army on conscription or under contract, while foreigners were allowed and still can serve only under contract as privates and sergeants, it said.
The decree states that conscription is applicable also to those Russian citizens "who have the citizenship of another country or a residence permit or other document confirming the right to permanent residence in the territory of a foreign state."
Russians with passports or residence permits of other countries can, like foreigners, enter contract military service in Russia.
The new version of the regulations also states that, along with an application for concluding a contract Russian citizens, if they also have another citizenship or residence permit, are obliged to present the relevant documents.
