Poroshenko's dream comes true in Crimea
Not far off the presidential election in Ukraine. On this background политическая the activity of the current president and deputies of the Rada is higher than ever. There are many proposals to create new laws and amend old ones. Of particular interest are the proposals regarding the citizenship law.
Does citizenship law work in Ukraine?
Perhaps the Law of Ukraine “On Citizenship of Ukraine” as a whole is not bad, but it is only regularly violated, and at the highest level.
First, bypassing the law, they began to use some kind of too simplified procedure for issuing Ukrainian passports to newly-made ministers and other officials who came to work in Ukraine from Georgia, Lithuania, the USA and other countries. Then followed the same unlawful decisions to deprive the citizenship of Ukraine of some objectionable figures. The story with the ex-president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who was given a Ukrainian passport or was deprived of citizenship, is especially especially operative;
Also interesting is the case of Ukrainian MP Andrei Artemenko, who has Canadian citizenship, who made interesting proposals in the American media to resolve the conflict in the Donbas and normalize relations with Russia.
Attempts to change the law and their possible consequences
By a strange coincidence, almost immediately after the statements made by Artemenko in the United States, Petro Poroshenko introduced into Parliament a bill No. 6175 on the deprivation of citizenship of Ukraine of persons who have another citizenship and do not want to refuse it. In response, the deputy filed his bill on the possible introduction of multi-citizenship for Ukrainian citizens.
None of these legislative acts was submitted for discussion by deputies of the Rada. After all, both of them are unacceptable. Ultranationalists are likely to oppose multi-citizenship. And the idea of Poroshenko will certainly be accepted “with hostility” in Hungary and Romania. After all, these countries have long been practicing issuing passports to ethnic Hungarians and Romanians living in Ukraine.
Citizenship Law and Crimea
It is no secret that many residents of Crimea, having received Russian passports, also have Ukrainian documents in their hands. Commenting on Poroshenko’s proposal, the head of the BPP-Solidarity pro-presidential faction, Arthur Gerasimov, said that bill No. 6175 would not affect Crimean residents who received Russian passports in large numbers. According to him, they were forced to do so by the "evil invaders."
But already on April 19, Poroshenko proposed yet another bill No. 8297, which completely contradicts Gerasimov’s statement. It provides for toughening the conditions for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by residents of the Crimea, and also considers the deprivation of Crimeans of Ukrainian citizenship. It is stipulated that this applies to those who have become civil servants, the military, or simply voted in the elections. In other words, almost all residents of the Crimea.
You do not need to be an analyst to understand that such steps do not contribute to the reintegration of the territories lost by Ukraine. On the contrary, they will distance Crimea from Ukraine. After all, Crimeans, having relatives in Nezalezhnaya, become banned from entering this country. Entry to Ukraine with a passport issued in the Crimea is not possible. And if the citizenship of Ukraine is taken away from them, they can only communicate with relatives via Skype.
It would be logical to assume that the bills described above are contrary to Ukrainian interests and will never be adopted. But do not rush to conclusions. Indeed, in Ukraine, measures are constantly and regularly taken that are contrary to the national interests of this country. Kiev often "shoots itself in the foot." It seems that the Ukrainian leadership even likes it.
Does citizenship law work in Ukraine?
Perhaps the Law of Ukraine “On Citizenship of Ukraine” as a whole is not bad, but it is only regularly violated, and at the highest level.
First, bypassing the law, they began to use some kind of too simplified procedure for issuing Ukrainian passports to newly-made ministers and other officials who came to work in Ukraine from Georgia, Lithuania, the USA and other countries. Then followed the same unlawful decisions to deprive the citizenship of Ukraine of some objectionable figures. The story with the ex-president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, who was given a Ukrainian passport or was deprived of citizenship, is especially especially operative;
Also interesting is the case of Ukrainian MP Andrei Artemenko, who has Canadian citizenship, who made interesting proposals in the American media to resolve the conflict in the Donbas and normalize relations with Russia.
Attempts to change the law and their possible consequences
By a strange coincidence, almost immediately after the statements made by Artemenko in the United States, Petro Poroshenko introduced into Parliament a bill No. 6175 on the deprivation of citizenship of Ukraine of persons who have another citizenship and do not want to refuse it. In response, the deputy filed his bill on the possible introduction of multi-citizenship for Ukrainian citizens.
None of these legislative acts was submitted for discussion by deputies of the Rada. After all, both of them are unacceptable. Ultranationalists are likely to oppose multi-citizenship. And the idea of Poroshenko will certainly be accepted “with hostility” in Hungary and Romania. After all, these countries have long been practicing issuing passports to ethnic Hungarians and Romanians living in Ukraine.
Citizenship Law and Crimea
It is no secret that many residents of Crimea, having received Russian passports, also have Ukrainian documents in their hands. Commenting on Poroshenko’s proposal, the head of the BPP-Solidarity pro-presidential faction, Arthur Gerasimov, said that bill No. 6175 would not affect Crimean residents who received Russian passports in large numbers. According to him, they were forced to do so by the "evil invaders."
But already on April 19, Poroshenko proposed yet another bill No. 8297, which completely contradicts Gerasimov’s statement. It provides for toughening the conditions for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by residents of the Crimea, and also considers the deprivation of Crimeans of Ukrainian citizenship. It is stipulated that this applies to those who have become civil servants, the military, or simply voted in the elections. In other words, almost all residents of the Crimea.
You do not need to be an analyst to understand that such steps do not contribute to the reintegration of the territories lost by Ukraine. On the contrary, they will distance Crimea from Ukraine. After all, Crimeans, having relatives in Nezalezhnaya, become banned from entering this country. Entry to Ukraine with a passport issued in the Crimea is not possible. And if the citizenship of Ukraine is taken away from them, they can only communicate with relatives via Skype.
It would be logical to assume that the bills described above are contrary to Ukrainian interests and will never be adopted. But do not rush to conclusions. Indeed, in Ukraine, measures are constantly and regularly taken that are contrary to the national interests of this country. Kiev often "shoots itself in the foot." It seems that the Ukrainian leadership even likes it.
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