Russian media: Russian passports to be issued in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts

Olha Hlushchenko – Friday, 27 May 2022, 06:50

Russian media report that Russia will "take into account the Crimean experience" when issuing Russian passports to Ukrainian residents of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Source: Georgiy Muradov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Crimea under the President of Russia, cited in TASS

Details: Citing Muradov, TASS reports that "Crimea will assist in issuing Russian passports to the residents of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts; Crimean experience of reunification with Russia in 2014 will be taken into account."

Earlier: Mykhailo Podoliak, Advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that a Ukrainian passport is a symbol of heroism, while a Russian one is a brand of disgrace.

Background:

• On 25 May, President Vladimir Putin of Russia issued a decree that will simplify the process of receiving Russian citizenship for residents of the Russian-occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
• Russian-appointed occupation authorities in Kherson Oblast announced that all of the oblast’s residents have a right to Russian citizenship; they are also planning to reinstate a Russian Empire-era coat of arms.
• Ukraine considers Putin’s decree on Russian passports "null and void."
• On 25 May, Russian occupation authorities in Mariupol told Mariupol residents that they could obtain Russian citizenship without obtaining intermediate citizenship of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic.
• Andrey Klishas, chair of the [Russian] Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation, has declared that residents of all Ukrainian territories occupied by the Russian Federation, not just those who live in Donbas, have the right to decide whether to continue to stay with Russia.