The presidential legal amendments, which were released Wednesday, waive some of the tough conditions for getting Russian citizenship that were contained in the citizenship law which went into force in July 2002.

The law requires applicants to spend at least five years in Russia, pass a Russian language exam and have a job to receive citizenship. The older law required only a three-year residence and no language test.

Proponents of the new law said the previous rules were too lax and fueled crime, while critics warned that the new legislation would speed up Russia's population decline by slowing down immigration.

In a letter to the State Duma explaining the need for the amendments, the Kremlin said that some of the new rules "unjustifiably complicated" naturalization for emigrants from the former Soviet republics who have long resided in Russia.

Putin's amendments propose that former Soviet citizens who were officially registered in Russia as of July 1, 2002 receive Russian citizenship without the five-year residence restriction, language exam, proof of financial solvency and a residence permit. The easier rules will apply to those who file their naturalization requests by Jan. 1, 2006.

Citizens of former Soviet republics who served on a contract in the Russian armed forces for at least three years can also receive Russian citizenship waiving the regular requirements. The provision reflects the military's hopes to beef up the armed forces by recruiting volunteers from the former Soviet republics.

Under Putin's proposals, a softened naturalization procedure will also apply to those residing in Russia who are married to a Russian citizen for at least three years and those incapable of working, but who have children who are Russian citizens.

The amendments also provide easy naturalization for World War II veterans and liberalize some other procedures of acquiring citizenship.

See also:

Law "On Citizenship in the RF"

The Associated Press, September 26, 2003