Russian President signed a law that makes procedure of receiving Russian citizenship easier for certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons, if they live in the country (the law was passed by the State Duma on the 11^th of June, 2014 and was approved by the Federation Council on the 18^th of June).

The law aims to simplify the procedure for admission to the Russian citizenship for foreign citizens and stateless persons residing in the country who are entrepreneurs, investors, qualified specialists, graduates of Russian educational institutions of vocational education.

Also necessary to tell about the recently passed federal law "About amendments to the Law of Citizenship of the Russian Federation" (adopted by the State Duma -  on the 3^rd  May 2014, which was approved by the Federation Council on the 28^th of May 2014)

Link to Act: http://www.pravo.gov.ru/laws/acts/43/4952504510601047.html

This Law requires anyone, who has SECOND citizenship or permanent residence in a foreign country beside Russian citizenship within two months from the date of receiving second citizenship or permanent residence in a foreign country to notify the Federal Migration Service.

In case of violation of this obligation - such citizen will pay a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles (actually approx. 4.400 EUR), or has to work (correctional labor) for up to 400 hours.

For residents of Crimea this rule comes into force from 1 January 2016.