The Government of Russia will discuss the issue of simplifying the procedure of obtaining Russian citizenship for scholars. 

RBK says Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted this at a meeting with members of the State Duma (Russia\’s lower chamber of parliament). 

According to the Russian Government’s official website, the meeting took place at the House of Government on April 7.   

Vladimir Plyakin, the member of the State Duma Committee for Industry and Trade also member of the parliamentary faction New People, speaking at the meeting, noted that many enterprises in the country are experiencing shortage of skilled workers and engineers.   

“Since 2022, any citizen of Ukraine, irrespective of ethnic belongings, may obtain Russian citizenship.  Meanwhile, not all our compatriots, who are ethnic Russians living on other countries, unfortunately can apply directly for Russian citizenship.  For foreign nationals, the mechanism of obtaining citizenship is very complex and lengthy,” the lawmaker said.  

He asked the prime minister to consider the possibility of equalizing ethnic Russians with citizens of Ukraine in the right to citizenship and simplifying rather than toughening the procedure of immigration of skilled specialists, businesspeople and scholars, “who are ready to bring their knowledge, experience and money to us.” 

“About citizenship -- the question is related to procedural things.  We will definitely consider your offer,” the prime minister said.  

In January this year, members of the parliamentary faction New People submitted for consideration a draft law on simplifying the procedure of obtaining Russian citizenship for scholars.   

Established in Moscow on March 1, 2020, New People is a political party that is being is considered a liberal party, and observers have called it centrist or center-right.