New data in Putin’s army – He signed a decree to allow foreign nationals to serve

The Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing foreign nationals to serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. With the decree, it brought about changes in a relevant provision that concerns all those who serve it military service.

Until now, only citizens of the Russian Federation could serve in the Russian army, while foreigners only by contract.

According to human rights activist Pavel Chikov, quoted by the Novaya Gazeta newspaper. Europe, these are citizens of Russia who have a second citizenship who can sign a contract to serve their military service. At the same time, he points out that even in the past foreign nationals could sign this type of contract.

“Also, the fact that a Russian citizen has a second (third, etc.) citizenship does not constitute an obstacle to being called to serve his military service. There is no mention of foreign nationals being called up for military service. Similar changes are not introduced in the legislation” writes Chikov. In late May, Putin signed a decree lifting the age limit for entering into a contract with the Armed Forces for both Russians and foreign nationals.

In September, the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, said that the Moscow government intends to start recruiting foreigners who wish to obtain Russian citizenship through a simplified process at the immigration center “Sakharovo”, without “waiting long and without bureaucratic obstacles”.

Also today, a bill was tabled in the State Duma (lower house) which proposes to strip Russian citizenship from those who have acquired it if they surrender or try to avoid military service by “feigning illness”. Putin also suggested that those who “discredit” the military or call for a violation of territorial integrity should be stripped of Russian citizenship.