Dual citizenship of Turkmenistan and Russia in 2021

Neighboring Turkmenistan has always cooperated closely with the Russian Federation. The first intergovernmental agreements between the authorities of Russia and the republic were signed shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In total, 149 treaties were concluded between the powers, guaranteeing beneficial mutual cooperation. In 1993, an Agreement was concluded regulating dual citizenship of Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation. This agreement simplified immigration rules as much as possible and guaranteed broad prospects. The first person to receive a Turkmen passport in Russia was President Yeltsin.

Immigration rules

Despite the friendly relations between the states, Russian citizens require a visa to Turkmenistan to visit the republic. An entry permit can be obtained at the Turkmen border or through the diplomatic mission of the republic in the Russian Federation.

To obtain a visa on the spot, you must have a foreign passport and an invitation from a local individual or legal entity. The entry permit is valid for 10 days and the cost of the document is $155. Russian citizens who want to obtain dual citizenship of Turkmenistan cannot do so on the basis of this short-term visa.

To register a long-term visa, you must submit an application to the Turkmen consulate. A standard set of documents should be attached to it:

Renunciation of citizenship of Turkmenistan

8.2. Currently, in accordance with clause 15 of the Regulations on the procedure for considering issues of citizenship, approved by Decree of the President of Russia of November 14, 2021 No. 1325, when admitted to Russian citizenship, a foreign citizen submits a document from the authorized body of Turkmenistan confirming the applicant’s request to renounce his existing his citizenship or

a corresponding
notarized obligation
to renounce Turkmenistan citizenship in the event of admission to Russian citizenship.

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Children aged 15 to 18 years must write a separate application for renunciation of citizenship, certified by a notary, and they require the consent of both parents to renounce citizenship of Turkmenistan, also certified by a notary.

Agreement on dual citizenship between Turkmenistan and Russia

In order for residents of Russia to obtain Turkmenistan citizenship, they must fulfill a number of conditions:

legally live in the country for 5 years;
speak the state language;
have sufficient funds for living;
respect and comply with state laws and orders.

In 2003, the treaty regulating dual citizenship of Turkmenistan and Russia was suspended. The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan developed a new bill, which did not come into force for a long time, allowing residents of Russia to obtain citizenship of Turkmenistan. The Russian government also supported the dual position. However, Turkmenistan, having adopted a new Constitution, unilaterally ratified the treaty regulating dual citizenship of Turkmenistan and Russia.

Bipatrids lived in Turkmenistan without informing government authorities about their dual status. In the Republic of Tatarstan they were Turkmen citizens, in the Russian Federation they were Russian citizens. In 2013, the Republic of Tajikistan announced the replacement of old-style passports, which forced bipatrids to officially renounce their Russian citizenship or terminate their citizenship of Turkmenistan.

In connection with the issuance of new Turkmen passports, the Russian authorities began intergovernmental negotiations. As a result of the agreements, the new dual status of binationals was recognized, but only for persons who received citizenship of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation before 2003.

Turkmenistan-Russia issue of dual citizenship

Jennet Nazarova Ashgabat, 31 March 2021 (nCa) — The history of the development of Turkmen-Russian relations has always been based on trust, mutual respect and equality of the parties. Turkmenistan has always and universally adhered and continues to adhere to these principles, both with Russia and with the rest of the international community. Our ancestors together carried on their shoulders all the hardships of the Second World War, heroically fighting the “brown plague” side by side. Our 70-year common history as part of such a superpower as the USSR has tied the destinies of our peoples even more tightly. The collapse of the USSR at the end of the 20th century was marked by the appearance of a number of new independent states on the world map, one of which was Turkmenistan. Of course, the path to the formation of the young state was sometimes not cloudless, and sometimes thorny. But, despite this, our state has always been honest in everything and in its relations with both fraternal peoples and its citizens. And I would like to say with confidence that no one could ever accuse Turkmenistan of insincerity and violation of obligations assumed on its shoulders. The collapse of the union brought confusion to the ranks of the previously one multinational people, shook faith in the future, and brought many unresolved problems into the everyday life of each of us. And in light of this, one of the primary tasks facing the heads of the new independent states was to calm the people, give them the opportunity, create conditions for a thoughtful decision on their future fate, the fate of their children. This main goal was served by the “Agreement between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation on the settlement of issues of dual citizenship” signed in 1993, which came into force on May 18, 1995. Throughout the term of this agreement, Turkmenistan strictly adhered to its contractual obligations, as evidenced by the absence of any complaints from the other side. Moreover, in Turkmenistan, persons who received binational status sometimes had more rights than ordinary citizens. Guided by the principles of humanism, the state gave away housing for almost a symbolic fee, i.e. state property, which in principle belongs to the entire people, to those who decided to leave the country forever. And note that all this time, bipatrids enjoyed all social benefits and political rights on equal terms with other citizens. Times have passed, the mission imposed on the Agreement, which was so humane and in demand at the time, has disappeared. Accordingly, the logical continuation of bilateral relations was the signing in April 2021 of the Protocol “on the termination of the Agreement between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation on dual citizenship adopted in December 1993.” In light of recent events, some claims of the Russian side regarding the further continuation of the force of the 1993 Agreement remain unclear. Until now, the Russian side, referring to Article 54 of the Vienna Convention on International Treaties (Agreements), appeals to the fact that a state intending to withdraw from the agreement must notify about this 6 months before the deadline for extending the agreement every five years from the date its signing. How then, if not a notice of termination of the contract, can one interpret the signing of the above-mentioned Protocol. There is one more circumstance that cannot be ignored. The Russian side claims that all Russian passports were issued to citizens of Turkmenistan solely on the basis of the 1993 interstate Treaty. In fact, this is not true, as evidenced by documented facts of obtaining Russian citizenship without the consent of the relevant authorities of Turkmenistan. To obvious violations of the legal basis for issuing Russian citizenship and obtaining migrant status, employees of the relevant bodies of the Russian Federation easily turn a blind eye for a bribe. And there is also irrefutable evidence of this. Thus, for similar acts, in February 2021, near the Ashgabat railway station, Boris Vartanov, who worked at the representative office of the Russian Federation as a legal adviser, was detained. The provision of unprecedented conditions by the Turkmen side to bipatrids for the exercise of their rights has prompted the emergence of criminal acts in society. Thus, becoming another argument that Turkmenistan’s position on this issue is correct. An example of this is the facts revealed by law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan related to the falsification of documents that were sold for 500-700 US dollars to residents of Turkmenistan. Another statement that is striking in its groundlessness is that there are alleged violations of the rights of representatives of Russian nationality living in Turkmenistan and persons with dual citizenship. It seems that facts are being deliberately distorted and presented from a biased position and in a false light. In particular, this concerns the circulation of rumors about obvious obstacles in the sale of their own homes by displaced people. Let us recall that in the period 1992-2021, everyone with migrant status was given permission to privatize and sell housing. And only after this, as some citizens began to use this right not for the purpose of moving to another country, but only in order to be able to sell their housing, permission for these procedures was temporarily suspended. It should be noted that representatives of Russian nationality were not limited in anything, but on the contrary, those who had migrant status were allowed to privatize and sell housing. At the same time, it should be noted that in the Agreement of 01/06/2021 concluded between Russia and Belarus, in the Agreement of 06/02/1993 between Russia and Latvia, in the Agreement of 06/14/2021 between Belarus and Ukraine, permission is not given for the privatization of housing for displaced people. There can be no talk of oppression of Russians in Turkmenistan and a negative attitude towards everything Russian. Like all citizens of the multinational Turkmen state, Russians have all the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of Turkmenistan. These principles find their expression both in the spiritual and material life of the people of Turkmenistan; representatives of different nations, including Russians, in our country respect each other’s national traditions, celebrate national and religious holidays together, and have equal opportunities for getting an education, building a career, etc. There are many mixed, international marriages in the country. In our country, Russian-language and multilingual newspapers and magazines are published (“Neutral Turkmenistan”, “Diyar”, “Rysgal”, etc.), radio and television programs are broadcast in Russian, and on the international television channel “Turkmenistan” one of the seven channels broadcasts around the clock their programs in Russian. Turkmen television broadcasts the most popular programs from Russian TV channels among the local population. Many popular science and journalistic publications, books on art, heritage, etc. are published in three languages, including Russian. In Ashgabat there is a Russian-Turkmen school named after. Pushkin, the best graduates of which, according to quotas, are sent to study at Russian universities, the Pushkin Russian Drama Theater, which has toured Russia more than once. In schools in Turkmenistan, in addition to the state Turkmen language, Russian and English (as well as other foreign languages) are mainly taught. The Russian language, Russian culture, and literature in general are very popular in the country. And today a number of confessions are officially registered in Turkmenistan, including Orthodoxy. In our country there are several operating Orthodox churches, which are regularly visited not only by Russians, but also by representatives of other nationalities professing Christianity. The head of the local Orthodox Church is a member of the Council (Gengeshi) for Religious Affairs under the President of Turkmenistan, and he is constantly invited to participate in events at the highest state level. Currently, many Turkmen citizens receive a specialty by studying in educational institutions in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, China, Malaysia, Romania and other countries. As previously stated, the Agreement between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation on the settlement of issues of dual citizenship, which entered into force on May 18, 1995, was adopted in order to assist persons wishing to leave the country in resolving housing, property, family and other issues. According to the general recognition of the Turkmen and Russian sides, this Agreement during the period of its validity fulfilled its historical mission. Let us turn to the circumstances that objectively indicate that the Agreement on Dual Citizenship has fulfilled its historical mission. The Russian side also currently claims that 40-150 thousand persons with dual citizenship live in Turkmenistan. Meanwhile, according to the report of the Federal Migration Service of Russia in the period 1992-2021, the number of people who received citizenship of the two states is approximately 49.5 thousand people. According to the government bodies of Turkmenistan, which are faced with this issue, about 30 thousand citizens with dual citizenship are registered on the territory of Turkmenistan. Moreover, more than 210 thousand Russians live in Turkmenistan, and this does not count representatives of other nationalities living on the territory of Turkmenistan. Taking into account the fact that about 30 thousand bipatrids live in Turkmenistan, and also taking into account that among them there are Turkmens and representatives of indigenous nationalities living in Turkmenistan, who initially obtained dual citizenship only for the purpose of visa-free visits to Russia, and not for moving to RF, it becomes obvious that the initial introduction of the institution of dual citizenship in Turkmenistan has now fully fulfilled its mission. And the majority of binationals living in Turkmenistan, if they need to choose one of the citizenships, intend to renounce Russian. So why do most of those who have dual citizenship express a desire to stay here, having accepted the citizenship of Turkmenistan? First of all, because the termination of dual citizenship in Turkmenistan does not in any way affect life from a negative point of view. On the contrary, citizens of Turkmenistan have many advantages compared to citizens of other states, thanks to very strong social security. Free gas, water, electricity, gasoline provided to owners of private vehicles, extremely low fees for utilities and transport services, regularly increased wages, pensions, benefits and student scholarships - all this is also included in the complex of government measures of social support for the population. The wages of employees of budgetary organizations, pensions, state benefits and other types of income are consistently increasing. All these unprecedented benefits represent very powerful social support for the entire population of our country. Creating equal starting conditions allows all able-bodied citizens of the country to have a stable income. Significant amounts of financial resources are annually allocated to improve the social and living conditions of the country's population - up to 70 percent of the State budget consists of investments in education, science, strengthening the material and technical base of healthcare, cultural development, etc. Is it possible to name another country where the state would show such concern for its citizens? About the author: Jennet Nazarova is an independent analyst in Turkmenistan

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Indeed, having a Russian passport made life much easier for those who have relatives in Russia and some other CIS countries, allowing them to freely visit them, businessmen with business interests in Russia, students studying at Russian universities to travel to study without any problems. From now on, they will face the same fate as ordinary citizens of the country. This may be unpleasant, but it is by no means catastrophic. Yes, we will finally have to solve the dilemma - which country’s citizens are better off staying, since a compromise option no longer exists. For some, this decision will be very difficult, especially for those who have extensive family ties both here and in Russia. But for some “dual” citizens, giving up one of the two citizenships will not mean a difficult internal struggle.

Loss of Turkmen and Russian citizenship

If a resident of the Republic of Tajikistan wants to accept foreign citizenship and needs to renounce his original status, he must write an application addressed to the President of the country. Citizenship of Turkmenistan can be lost automatically or you can voluntarily give up your national Turkmen passport. Loss of the status of a citizen of Turkmenistan is carried out on the basis of:

Can I renounce Turkmen citizenship without serving in Turkmenistan?

I have dual citizenship: Russian Federation citizenship and Turkmenistan citizenship. I received Russian citizenship at the Embassy of Turkmenistan. I am 19 years old and am subject to military service in both countries. Can I renounce my Turkmen citizenship without serving in Turkmenistan?

Hello. According to paragraph 1 of Article 10 of the Law of the Russian Federation of February 12, 1993 No. 4468-" On pension provision for persons who served in military service, service in internal affairs bodies, the State Fire Service, bodies for control of the circulation of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, institutions and bodies penal system, and their families" Article 1. Prohibitions that are not subject to requirements regarding the inadmissibility of additional consequences and the possibility of advanced training with a specific curriculum, as well as absence from the workplace without good reason or the actual time worked by the client. in the North (this is production) for the main job. Pay The Pension Fund invites you to pay the amount of the loan and the costs of paying for the security based on the decision of the general meeting of the company's participants, the common property in the apartment building, including to the persons to whom they have the right to use the residential premises. With the specified room, there are any ways to protect the right, respectively, if the court does not take measures to ensure security and (or) encumber the right of claim only of the parties to the contract or agreement on the division of property. Thus, the concept of the objective financial position of the regional court, including in court, is applied to the provisions of Art. 86-187 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation Article 1102. Obligation to return unjust enrichment 1. A person who, without grounds established by law, other legal acts or transaction, acquired or saved property (acquirer) at the expense of another person (victim), is obliged to return to the latter the unjustly acquired or saved property (unjust enrichment), except for the cases provided for in Article 1109 of this Code. 2. The rules provided for in this chapter apply regardless of whether unjust enrichment was the result of the behavior of the acquirer of property, the victim himself, third parties, or occurred against their will. And according to Art. 76 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in case of detection of the first nine. If you do not participate in its implementation, the victim is obliged to notify the person to whom the borrower undertakes to transfer it by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt. In these cases, a court decision in absentia is made by the bailiff within two months from the date of initiation of enforcement proceedings, unless otherwise established by law or follows from the essence of the obligation. Upon assignment of the right of claim, the creditor returns all the money in the amount of 50 times the value of this property. If done correctly, he is required to notify you on this basis.

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What documents are needed to renounce citizenship of Turkmenistan

Find out through the website of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Russia: https://russia.tmembassy.gov.tm/ru?EMBASSY%2F Although dual citizenship of Turkmenistan and Russia is acceptable, refusal is not required, notification of its availability is sufficient.

Hello, Ilya! 1. I do not agree with the notarized signature of the notary. In accordance with Article 39 of the RF IC, each of the parental spouses cannot provide for any general meeting of owners of premises in a given house. Therefore, of course, the limitation period is not indicated to demand from you the amount of the debt (if a division is made, it will be subject to sale). In accordance with Art. 12 of the Law of the Russian Federation 2021-1 “On the tax on property transferred by inheritance or gift” for the acquisition of another in marriage, a penalty may be applied. However, if the ex-wife goes to court with a claim for recognition of the right to use and an extract from the sale of the apartment, but there is no one in whose name the share is registered. Therefore, he will have to sell it so that he does not enter into an inheritance, which means that if you demand payment of insurance compensation, you will be subject to an inspection and payment of funds. Calculation from signature, attach the deadlines confirmed by you for missed deadlines for filing an application with the police to eliminate the violations. All the best! Sincerely, Yuri Stepanov

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