Russian Citizenship Drive In "Liberated" Territories-By Harsha Sankar (May 2023)

Russia has made it law that any individual in its "liberated" territories (Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk) which formerly belonged to Ukraine either accept Russian citizenship or will be deemed as foreigners. This law takes effect on July 1st, 2024.

Furthermore, any foreigner who threaten Russia's "national security" may be subject to deportation from Russia.

This law makes sense. While Russia and its President Vladimir Putin have been accused of being "Stalinist" in this measure, this law is legitimate and Russia does not play games with the law. This law is not ethnic cleansing but it tells individual(s) in these areas that it has now incorporated into the Russian Federation that they either become citizens of its nation or they will be afforded foreigner status. Plain and Simple.

Russia has not threatened to intern or deport anyone. Their citizenship drive in those newly acquired territories is not even mandatory. They are merely stating that either an individual(s) becomes a Russian citizen or they do not. If they desire not to become a Russian citizen, they will deemed a foreigner. That is straightforward and fair enough.