Draft law No. 11469 on multiple citizenship, submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, caused a wide public outcry. This initiative was criticized by the public sector and activists. The main argument of its opponents is that certain provisions of the draft law may pose serious threats to Ukrainian identity, national security, and citizens’ rights. Public organizations and expert communities call on the Verkhovna Rada to revise the text of the draft law before the second reading and make changes that will eliminate risks for the state and society. Which regulations cause the most outrage, and why has this draft law divided society so much?
Principal comments on the draft law
Public organizations Movement “Space of Freedom”, Network for the Protection of National Interests “ANTS”, All-Ukrainian Movement “Edyni”, NGO “Ukrainian World”, Educational Platform “E-mova”, NGO “Nezalezhni”, Initiative for the Protection of the Rights of Ukrainian-Speakers “And so they will understand! ”, Civil Movement “Vitsich”, Initiative “Drizhdzhi”, Public Sector of Euromaidan and NGO “Expertny Corps” made public a statement stating:
“In connection with the fact that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted in the first reading on draft law No. 11469 on multiple citizenship introduced by the president, we draw attention to the serious threats contained in the text of the draft law.”
Representatives of the public sector indicate that it is categorically unacceptable to enact norms that directly threaten Ukrainian identity, national security, or the rights of Ukrainian citizens.
Representatives of civil society emphasize that the draft law in its current version contains a number of provisions that may lead to negative consequences. The statement, which was released by several dozen organizations, addresses three key issues.
“We call on the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to eliminate these threats by making the necessary amendments to the draft law before the second reading”, – the statement says.
Requirements for knowledge of the Ukrainian language, history and the Constitution
One of the main claims of the public concerns the norms related to the acquisition of Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners. The draft law proposes to cancel mandatory exams on the Ukrainian language, knowledge of history and the basics of the Constitution of Ukraine. Activists consider this an absurd decision that creates risks for the preservation of Ukrainian identity.
“Passing exams on the level of proficiency in the Ukrainian language, knowledge of history and the basics of the Constitution of Ukraine before obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by foreigners should remain mandatory. The possibility of mass admission to Ukrainian citizenship of foreigners who do not speak Ukrainian and have no idea about the history and the legal system of Ukraine is a dangerous absurdity”, — note the authors of the statement.
Comprehensive list of countries for multiple citizenship
The draft law provides for the possibility of obtaining Ukrainian citizenship in a simplified manner for citizens of certain states. However, the text of the document does not contain a specific list of these countries. Public organizations insist that the list should be clearly defined in the law, as it was in the previous version of the draft law.
“Since the project mentions a list of states whose citizens can obtain Ukrainian citizenship in a simplified manner (and at the same time Ukrainian citizens will be able to obtain citizenship of these states without losing Ukrainian citizenship), these states should be named directly in the text of the draft law.
This was the case in the previous presidential draft law on multiple citizenship No. 10425, which included a list of 33 states (members of the EU, USA, Canada, Great Britain, Norway, Switzerland and Japan). This list can be supplemented by four countries – Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The list of the mentioned 37 states must be exhaustive, its expansion is inadmissible.” – public figures believe.
The problem of coordination with other legislative initiatives
Activists consider another significant threat to be the provision according to which the key norms of the law come into force only together with another draft law, which, according to critics, violates the principle of equality of citizens before the law. According to the activists, the mentioned initiative actually divides Ukrainian citizens into “sorts” and nullifies the positive aspects of the draft law on multiple citizenship.
“It should be removed from the draft law that its key provisions enter into force only together with the norms of another, not yet adopted, draft law, which, contrary to the Constitution, divides Ukrainian citizens into classes and nullifies the positive aspects of draft law 11469”, – said in the statement.
Activists emphasize that the introduction of multiple citizenship should meet national interests. They call on the Verkhovna Rada to take into account their comments during the second reading and to change the text of draft law 11469, because without taking into account at least these three positions, its adoption is unacceptable.
