Donetsk, Jun 20 - DAN. Some 10,000 residents of the Donetsk People’s Republic have applied for receiving Russian passports under a simplified procedure, the Republic’s Migration Service told the Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.
“As of today, we’ve filed nearly 10,000 sets of documents for receiving Russian citizenship," it said.
The first Russian passports were issued under a simplified procedure to DPR residents on June 14. More than 200 applicants have already been granted Russian citizenship.
Earlier, DPR Head Denis Pushilin ordered to ensure residents’ unhindered travel to Russia’s Rostov region to receive Russian passports. The relevant instructions were given to the State Security Ministry, Interior Ministry, Tax and Revenue Ministry, Health Care Ministry and Transport Ministry.
On April 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decree on determining groups of foreign nationals eligible to obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure. The document specifically eases Russian citizenship rules for residents of the Donbass Republics. The DPR Migration Service opened Russian citizenship applications on May 3.*jk