March 26, 2026

Russians are increasingly being prosecuted for failing to report a second citizenship and permanent residency abroad – Meduza

The number of criminal cases for failure to notify about a second citizenship or the right to permanent residence abroad has increased since the start of the war in Ukraine, Meduza found. Since 2022, the number of convictions has been steadily growing: if in the pre-war year of 2021 there were five, then in the first half of 2025 alone, there were already 17. Most often, defendants are fined. Since 2022, Russians with Ukrainian passports or residence permits have most often become them. Infographics: Meduza. Since the beginning of the war, the number of administrative cases for violating notification deadlines for new citizenship has also been increasing: if in 2022 the police drew up 2.6 thousand protocols, then in 2023 there were already 4.6 thousand. Infographics: Meduza. Responsibility for failure to notify about a second passport or permanent residence appeared in the Russian Federation in 2014 – after the annexation of Crimea. Before that, Russians were not obliged to report this, and the state did not keep such records, Meduza notes. This winter, Russian authorities stated that they intend to tighten the rules. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed obliging even those Russians who permanently live abroad to notify about a second citizenship or residence permit. Currently, this is only required when entering the Russian Federation.