Moscow migration centre to start recruiting foreigners that want to receive Russian citizenship for military service

The Moscow government is planning to open a military service recruitment centre for foreigners that want to receive Russian citizenship under a simplified scheme, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said in a post on his blog.

“The Moscow government will soon roll out a full-scale infrastructure of assistance to Russia’s Defence Ministry by organising [a military service recruitment point] for foreigners in the Sakharovo migration centre,” his statement reads.

According to the mayor, the foreigners that sign a year-long contract with Russia’s Armed Forces will be able to get Russian citizenship “without long waiting times and other bureaucratic obstacles”.

Earlier today, the Russian State Duma (the lower house of the Parliament - translator's note) approved a bill with amendments that facilitate receival of Russian citizenship. According to the document, the foreigners that sign a year-long contract with Russia’s Armed Forces will receive citizenship without having to first receive a residence permit. According to existing legislation, a foreigner has to serve at least three years under contract before receiving citizenship.

At the end of May, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree cancelling the upper age limit for people that sign contracts with Russia’s Armed Forces — for both Russian citizens and foreigners.