All new citizens over 18 must pledge their respect to Russian culture, history and tradition – but the lower house of Russian government wants to drop the age to 14
Russia has passed a bill to lower the citizenship oath – which is an obligatory pledge of allegiance to the country – to 14.
The oath was originally introduced in 2017 and required new citizens to pledge their respect for Russian’s culture, history and tradition – with the previous minimum age at 18.
But in an attempt to instil ‘patriotic spirit’ in its citizens the lower house State Duma has lowered the age to 14.
Current legislation deems a citizenship grant invalid if the individual refuses or fails to take the oath within one year of the decision.
Russian citizenship also becomes invalid if the applicant dies before taking the oath.
The bill was first approved on February 13 and was proposed by State Duma deputies led by the Committee on Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs Chair Leonid Kalashnikov.
The lower limit is needed to ensure a more conscious commitment to the law.
Since 2023, it has become a mandatory condition that all foreign citizens and stateless persons acquiring Russian citizenship are required to take the oath.
Earlier the State Duma proposed requiring athletes to know the Russian national anthem and to take the oath.
This latest bill will require approval from the upper-house Federation Council and the signature of President Vladimir Putin.
The oath people must take states: “I (surname, name, middle name), swear that, by taking the citizenship of the Russian Federation, I will observe the Constitution and the laws of the Russia Federation and the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
“That I shall fulfil my duties as a citizen of the Russian Federation for the welfare of the state and society; that I will protect the freedom and independence of the Russian Federation; and that U will be loyal to Russia and respect its culture, history and traditions.”
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