No one will be prosecuted for being forced to get Russian passports in occupied territories – Ukraine's Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice has stated that Ukrainian citizens who have been forced to obtain Russian passports in the occupied territories will not be prosecuted.

Source: press service for the Ministry of Justice

Quote: "The practice of depriving a person of the possibility of choice is often used by the Russian occupation authorities to influence a person's behaviour so that the latter acts not of their own free will, but under pressure from circumstances due to fear of repression or the imposition of illegal restrictions. One example is the forced passportisation in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine, which is one of the numerous proofs of the violation of citizens' rights."

Details: Those who have obtained Russian passports to avoid ill-treatment will not be prosecuted. The ministry stated that Article 40 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, provided there is evidence of mental coercion, grants full legal protection in court.

The Ministry of Justice said that among the measures taken by Russia in the territories under its control is the forced Russification of citizens holding Ukrainian passports. The ministry stated that Russia is inflicting the greatest suffering on civilians, as holding a Ukrainian passport is regarded as an act of protest. Therefore, under the extremely difficult conditions of living under occupation, local residents are forced to take Russian citizenship.

The Ministry of Justice also said such documents have no legal force and are not recognised anywhere except in the occupied territories.

"Forced passportisation is illegal and is not recognised in Ukraine or in the world, as it contradicts the principles and norms of international law and is a violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War," the press service said.

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