No information on whether a spouse and/or child of a Russian citizen can apply for Russian citizenship without an official marriage or birth certificate issued by the country in which the marriage or birth took place could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Attempts to contact the Russian consulates in Canada and the United States were unsuccessful within the constraints of this Response.

The following information, however, may be of interest.

The new Russian law on citizenship, which was signed by the Russian president on 3 June 2002 (AP 3 June 2002) and came into force on 5 June 2002 (Centre TV 5 June 2002), states the following:

"A child shall obtain Russian citizenship at birth if on the day of his birth both of his parents, or his single parent, hold Russian citizenship" (Rossiyskaya Gazeta 20 Apr. 2002).

As well, although the law stipulates that a "law-abiding foreigner" must live in the country for five years before becoming a Russian citizen, in the case of an applicant who has been married to a Russian national for at least three years the minimum term of residence in Russia is reduced to one year (Centre TV 5 June 2002).

For information on the old law on citizenship, please refer to RUS38625.E of 19 March 2002.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Associated Press (AP). 3 June 2002. "Putin Endorses Law with Tougher Rules for Acquiring Russian Citizenship." (NEXIS)

Centre TV [Moscow, in Russian]. 5 June 2002. "New Citizenship Law Breeds Corruption, Says Russian TV." (BBC Worldservice Monitoring 5 June 2002/NEXIS)

Rossiyskaya Gazeta [Moscow, in Russian]. 20 April 2002. "Russian Citizenship Law Adopted After 'Stormy Debate'." (FBIS-SOV-2002-0423 20 Apr. 2002)

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Oral sources:

Unsuccessful attempts to contact Russian consulates in the United States, including in Washington, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Russian consulates in Ottawa and Montreal

The Russian consulate in Jamaica was unable to provide information

Internet sites including:

Consulate of the Russian Federation, Ottawa, Washington, and New York

Prima News

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

The Russia Journal

World News Connection

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