Bill on Dual Citizenship: The World Congress of Ukrainians Pointed to Necessary Amendments

The World Congress of Ukrainians (WCU) welcomed the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada in the first reading of the draft law of Ukraine on dual citizenship. However, the WCU said that amendments need to be made to the document, in particular, requirements for citizenship should be spelled out, and a limited list of recognized countries should be established. This was reported by UNN with reference to the statement of the congress.

As indicated in the WCU, this draft law is a significant step forward in recognizing the diverse and global nature of the Ukrainian community, as well as Ukraine's integration into the EU.

For many years, the WCU has advocated for such legislation, understanding its potential to increase Ukraine's global presence and support the rights of Ukrainians living abroad. This law will allow Ukrainians to preserve their heritage and identity, while contributing to the countries of their residence and Ukraine.

However, the World Congress believes that the current draft requires important changes to fully meet the interests of Ukraine and all its citizens. These changes include:

- Equality of citizens before the law: It is important to prevent the division of citizens into "classes" and ensure equal treatment of all citizens before the law with the same rights and obligations.

- List of recognized countries: A limited list of recognized countries should be established, excluding those that pose a threat to Ukraine's security, such as Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Iran and others.

- Citizenship requirements: Applicants for Ukrainian citizenship must declare their loyalty to the Ukrainian state, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They must demonstrate knowledge of the history of Ukraine, the duties of a Ukrainian citizen, the Constitution of Ukraine and proficiency in the Ukrainian language.

The WCU noted that they are ready to work closely with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to include these amendments in the final law. "These recommendations are critical to ensuring that this legislation meets the highest standards of efficiency, fairness and security, while promoting the interests of Ukraine and Ukrainians worldwide," the congress said.

The WCU also named the benefits of dual citizenship legislation for Ukraine:

- Encouraging return: It encourages the return of Ukrainians to protect and rebuild Ukraine, contributing their skills, knowledge and resources to the country's development and security. This should include full participation in the civil service of Ukraine.

- Engaging global Ukrainians in defending Ukraine: By allowing dual citizenship, Ukraine will strengthen its ties with the global Ukrainian community, promoting closer cultural, economic and political ties worldwide. Global Ukrainian communities will provide strong military, political and economic support for Ukraine among the peoples and governments of the countries where they reside.

- Slowing assimilation: By allowing dual citizenship, the law helps slow the assimilation of Ukrainians living abroad, allowing them to maintain a strong connection to their heritage and culture, without forcing them to choose between Ukrainian citizenship and the country of residence. With 25 million Ukrainians outside Ukraine today, preserving their cultural and political identity is critical to Ukraine's future.

Recall

Earlier, the parliament adopted in the first reading a bill that provides for the introduction of the institute of dual citizenship in Ukraine.

Zelensky re-submits bill on multiple citizenshipAug 7 2024, 07:16 PM • 53764 views