221 persons in Transcarpathia obtained citizenship of Ukraine

At present, in Transcarpathia, 221 persons have obtained citizenship of Ukraine. According to the Head of the citizenship sector of the Department for citizenship, registration, and citizens from temporarily occupied territories of the State Migration Service of Ukraine Main Office in the region Victoria Philip, most of those, who have expressed a desire to become citizens of Ukraine, previously had Russian citizenship. There have 125 such persons since the beginning of the year.  Also foreigners, who came from Moldova, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, often seek to acquire Ukrainian citizenship.

Also, due to the intensification of foreign countries’ activities in order to simplify the procedure for obtaining foreign citizenship by citizens of Ukraine, the migration service of the region informs the public on key provisions of the legislation of Ukraine and the legal consequences of obtaining the citizenship of another country.

Thus, according to the Law of Ukraine "On Citizenship of Ukraine", if a citizen of Ukraine has acquired the citizenship (nationality) of another state or states, in his or her legal relations with Ukraine, he or she is recognized as the citizen of Ukraine only.

The law also defines the grounds and procedures for acquisition and termination of citizenship of Ukraine. The citizenship of Ukraine terminates, particularly, in case of its loss.

One of the reasons for registration of the loss of citizenship of Ukraine, in accordance with Article 19 of the Law, is voluntary acquisition of citizenship of another country by a citizen of Ukraine, provided that at the time of such acquisition, he or she has come of age.

By the terms of Article 20 of the Law, a citizen of Ukraine, for whom the loss of citizenship is registered, shall enjoy all the rights and shall assume all duties of a citizen of Ukraine until the issuance of the decree of the President of Ukraine on the termination of citizenship of Ukraine.

Thus, the voluntary acquisition of the citizenship of a foreign state by a citizen of Ukraine does not exempt a citizen from the obligation to adhere to the Constitution of Ukraine and laws of Ukraine, as well as liability for their violations until the adoption of appropriate decision by the President of Ukraine on the termination of the citizenship of Ukraine.