Over the first nine months of this year, 30,000 Tajikistanis have got Russian citizenship.  In all, 285,000 foreigners have reportedly got Russian citizenship over the same nine-month period.   

In January-September this year, 30,000 nationals of Tajikistan have got Russian citizenship, according to Izvestiya.

In all, 285,000 foreigners have got Russian citizenship over the first nine months of this year, which was 48 percent more than in the same period last year, Izvestiya reported, citing the Russian Interior Ministry.

The majority of those who get Russian citizenship over the report period are nationals of Ukraine – 146,000 people.

Ukrainians are followed by citizens of Kazakhstan – 35,000 people.

Besides, 30,000 citizens of Tajikistan, 17,000 citizens of Armenia, 14,000 citizens of Uzbekistan and 11,500 citizens of Moldova have got Russian citizenship over the first nine months this year, Izvestiya said.    

Meanwhile, RT news agency reported on May 3 last year that the number of Tajik nationals getting Russian passport has increased also nearly three times – from 9,773 people in 2012 to 29,039 people in 2017. 

Recall, the new simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship came into force for select categories of foreign nationals on March 29, 2019.  

According to the amendments, the Russian President can determine on humanitarian grounds categories of foreign nationals who can obtain citizenship status through the simplified procedure.

The amendments also provide for a simplified procedure for foreigners who participate in the state program for facilitating the voluntary resettlement in the Russian Federation of ethnic Russians living abroad.

The Russian authorities are attempting to fill the shortage of high-skilled specialists by qualified specialists from other countries, mainly CIS nations.

Thus, medical workers, teachers, tractor operators, veterinary surgeons, engineers, mechanics, and many other specialties (totaling 135 specialties) will be put on the list of specialists who can obtain Russian citizenship following simplified procedure.