Ukraine tightens exit rules for dual citizens amid ongoing conflict
The American Embassy in Ukraine issued an alarming statement on Tuesday. It warns men with dual citizenship—American and Ukrainian—that they can no longer leave Ukraine from 1 June.
According to the American Embassy in Kyiv, as of 1 June, Ukraine has tightened regulations regarding men of conscription age. Until now, individuals with dual citizenship who were permanent residents in the USA could freely leave Ukraine. Now, this has become impossible.
The US delegation reminded that Ukraine does not recognise dual citizenship. "Such individuals are, therefore, treated as Ukrainian citizens during their stay in Ukraine and are subject to the rights and obligations of Ukrainian citizens. According to Ukrainian regulations, men aged 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave the country. Previously, American-Ukrainian citizens in this group could enter and then leave Ukraine if they deregistered their Ukrainian residence and registered their residence in the USA. According to our information, this exception was revoked on 1 June," the statement added.
This statement, presented in various Ukrainian media, has been slightly misrepresented. On Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Border Guard, Andriy Demchenko, responded to these reports.
"The new regulations limited this possibility"
– The wording that is being circulated on various resources that Ukrainians with dual citizenship will now not be released from the country is, to put it mildly, incorrect. I can note once again that dual citizenship is prohibited in Ukraine – he stated.
He emphasised that these norms have been in force before. In particular, border guard officers have repeatedly identified Ukrainian citizens who pretended to be foreigners during passport control. According to Demchenko, such individuals have always and continue to bear legal responsibility.
He explained that these individuals should not be confused with Ukrainian citizens who permanently reside abroad and should have appropriate annotations in their documents about registering for permanent residence abroad and annotations about permanent consular registration at a foreign diplomatic mission of Ukraine.
– Previously, such Ukrainian citizens aged 18 to 60 had the opportunity to travel outside Ukraine during martial law. However, with the change in regulations, this possibility is now limited for them – Demchenko explained.
Source: pravda.com.ua
