Multiple citizenship, a tribunal for the Russian Federation and the Ottawa Convention: Zelensky signed a number of laws

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed three important documents of historic significance for the future of Ukraine. The most important of them is the law on multiple citizenship, which opens the door to uniting millions of Ukrainians around the world. The agreement on the establishment of a Special Tribunal to punish Russia for aggression was also ratified, and a decision was made to suspend the Ottawa Convention for Ukraine – a step in response to Russia’s use of anti-personnel mines.

He wrote about this in Telegram .

“I immediately signed the documents transferred from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: the law on multiple citizenship, the ratification of the Agreement on the Establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression against Ukraine, as well as the suspension of the Ottawa Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines for Ukraine. I am grateful to the people’s deputies of Ukraine for supporting these decisions. Each one strengthens Ukraine,” the president said.

Law on Multiple Citizenship

For the first time in Ukrainian history, the law allows Ukrainian citizens to hold passports of other countries if these countries are included in the list of so-called “friendly countries” – that is, those with which Ukraine has close diplomatic ties and agreements on legal cooperation. This approach allows to avoid security threats, in particular – from citizens of aggressor countries.

Who it concerns:

• Millions of Ukrainians are in the diaspora, including in the USA, Canada, Germany, Poland, Great Britain, Australia, and Italy.
• Foreigners who have linked their lives with Ukraine (for example, fought for it, volunteered, or have lived in the country for a long time).

“We will be able to create more real legal foundations for the unity of our entire great people,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

In particular, the law provides:

• Multiple citizenship is allowed without losing Ukrainian citizenship — the main thing is that the other citizenship be from a state that is recognized as a partner.
• Does not apply to citizens of the Russian Federation – the law directly prohibits having Russian citizenship at the same time as Ukrainian.
• The law creates the basis for concluding interstate agreements on the recognition of dual citizenship – for example, with the USA, Canada, Israel, etc.
• In some cases, a ban on multiple citizenship may apply to officials, civil servants, and military personnel to avoid conflicts of interest.
• Ukrainians who have other passports will have to notify the state about this (through a special register) – concealment may entail legal liability.

The development of by-laws that will determine the list of partner countries, as well as the formation of the procedure for registering multiple citizenship and coordinating interstate agreements, has immediately begun.

Ratification of the Tribunal Agreement

Ukraine has officially ratified the agreement to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian Aggression. This is another legal instrument to hold Russian political and military leaders internationally accountable.

“We must ensure the real inevitability of Russia’s punishment for the war against Ukraine,” the president said.

It is noted that the tribunal is being created with the support of the G7 countries, the Council of Europe and the European Union. It will have jurisdiction over the top leadership of the Russian Federation, which made the decision to launch aggression against Ukraine. Thus, Zelensky is waiting for a schedule for the launch of the tribunal from the government and the Office of the President.

Termination of the Ottawa Convention

The President also signed a decision to suspend the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines, for Ukraine.

“Russia has never been a party to this convention and has not adhered to the norms of humanizing the use of weapons,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

Such a decision means:

• Ukraine is not withdrawing from the convention completely, but is suspending its operation due to the threat from the Russian Federation.
• This will allow the Ukrainian military to more effectively defend the borders, particularly in mine-hazardous areas.
• Corresponding changes to the defense strategy are already being prepared together with partners.

Let us recall that on June 18 , the Verkhovna Rada adopted a bill on the introduction of the institution of multiple citizenship in Ukraine.

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