Svyatoslav Vakarchuk expressed his opinion on citizenship.
In recent months after several high-profile stories, I’m seriously thinking about the problem of dual citizenship in Ukraine. Especially hooked on the story of the famous reformer, former Minister of Finance of Slovakia Ivan Miklos, whom I have the honour to know personally. It may not work in our government, because it is not a citizen of Ukraine. But if citizenship will receive, you will be forced to abandon his native Slovak, he, of course, will not go.
There are a number of similar cases. For example, think of football players-legionaries, not having the opportunity to play for the Ukrainian team. So I thought: why Ukraine prohibits dual citizenship? We have long been reinsured to citizenship does not become a tool of political struggle. But why not enter double or multigrades with certain countries?
The mechanism is simple: the law was adopted, which allows, in the framework of bilateral agreements with other States to get their citizenship. If the relevant Treaty does not, then second citizenship is prohibited. To exclude similar agreements with those with whom we have territorial disputes or political and legal conflicts.
Talented people from other countries, including immigrants from Ukraine who wish to work at home, could come here and work, not changing passports. After all, just funny when someone occupying public office, allegedly receives Ukrainian citizenship. Double play.
As for the countries with which such treaties will not, I would suggest to strengthen the responsibility for obtaining their citizenship. For ordinary citizens it is possible to anticipate severe penalties or administrative penalties, for officials — criminal liability. Thus, I think we will be able to resolve everything.
In turn, the special agreements will allow people like Ivan Miklos, fully and officially, to work for the benefit of Ukraine. And this applies to the millions who want to live here. I know many who don’t mind getting a Ukrainian passport, while remaining citizens of the UK, Ireland or Canada.
I think, today, the ghostly fear of dual citizenship for Ukrainians are out of date. And it’s time to introduce a system of bilateral ratifications, which would work on the same principle as the avoidance of double taxation. A year and a half ago I mentioned this to the President personally, but I don’t know how seriously he took my words.
Do not be afraid, if the Ukrainians, having received such a possibility, are emigrating EN masse. First, if you wish, they’ll do it without a dual passport, including all illegal ways. Secondly, it is not so simple and Ukrainian, went somewhere for work or study, to obtain in this country citizenship. Therefore, I am confident a resolution to obtain a second citizenship the situation will not worsen, but will help to resolve the issue with experts from other countries who can work for us.
Right migration policy is one of the pillars of the success of the United States and Latin America. The United States became who they are, because wisely disposed the opportunity to provide their citizenship. It is unlikely that the Americans were interested in the passports of Ukrainian migrants of the twentieth century: they just gave us, if these people could be useful for the country. We have to move the same way.
We need to stop thinking about nationality as a blood category. This constitutional category: anyone, regardless of place of birth or origin, if he wants to live here and work for the good of the country, needs to obtain access to citizenship, without abandoning its roots.
