Russia's Ministry Of Home Affairs Opens The Center For Army Recruitment For Foreigners, Gets The Right To Be A Citizen

Illustration of Russian mobilization. (Wikimedia Commons/ largeоенинистрой одидидий едидий)

JAKARTA - The Russian Interior Ministry has opened recruitment outlets for foreigners who want to serve in Russian soldiers under the contract, the Interior Ministry's press service said.

The press service said the outlets were opened at the territorial office of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as the regional passport and visa service division.

"For the convenience of foreign nationals who wish to register in the Russian Armed Forces, special outlets to receive applications from foreign nationals for contract military services have been opened at the territorial offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as regional branches of federal state companies for Passport and Visa Services," the press service said.

The Interior Ministry reminded that the right to obtain Russian citizenship under simplified procedures has been granted to foreigners who have signed service contracts with the Russian Armed Forces, other troops or military formations participating in special military operations.

Also, simplified citizenship acquisition procedures apply to their family members, including parents, spouses and children.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree making it easier for foreigners to obtain Russian citizenship if they join the army, referring to documents published Friday, as quoted by The Moscow Times.

"Residents of foreign countries or citizens without citizenship who signed contracts to serve in the Russian Armed Forces for at least one year and take part in military operations for at least six months, will be eligible for simplified application procedures," the decree said.

Furthermore, "Foreigners who are injured in fighting before six months and unable to return to the battlefield will also be eligible," according to the decree.

The document comes more than a week after President Putin announced the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of Russians to support Moscow's troops in Ukraine.

The decree appears to be addressed to thousands of former Soviet Union nationals in Central Asia, who live and work in Russia, receiving better salaries compared to their poorer home countries.

It is known that Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan recently urged their citizens not to join Russian foreign forces.