[Translation] “We are people, not matryoshkas” The Czech Republic, a country with a large Russian-speaking diaspora, is going to ban Russians from obtaining citizenship. Before that, they promised to “keep a close eye on them”

The Czech Republic is considering the Lex Ukrajina bill. It mainly concerns the extension of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees, but the final draft includes two amendments that significantly limit the rights of Russians living in the Czech Republic. Now, to obtain Czech citizenship, they will have to renounce their Russian citizenship, which complicates the already very strict rules for issuing a local passport. But even if a Russian citizen is ready to do this, he will not be able to apply for Czech citizenship: the document suspends all current applications from Russians over 15 years old until the end of the law on temporary protection of Ukrainian citizens, which in the new version is indefinite. The document has already passed three readings in the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives. It is expected that in January it will be adopted by the Senate and signed by the president – activists continue their resistance campaign and are collecting signatures for a petition to ban discrimination.

[Translation] Forget about Czech citizenship, MPs tell Russians

The Chamber of Deputies approved an amendment to the Lex Ukraine law on Wednesday. Along with it, a controversial amendment was passed temporarily suspending the issuance of Czech citizenship to Russians. At first, the additional passage appears to say that the path to Czech citizenship will be open only to Russians who renounce their Russian citizenship. Then the reader comes to paragraph 7y. In it, he suddenly learns that, according to the proposal, all applications from Russians are to be suspended next year.

[Paywall] Czech proposal to freeze citizenship applications for Russians is discriminatory, critics say

The Czech parliament is considering an amendment to the Ukraine VII law that would freeze citizenship applications from Russian nationals living in the country and force those who have already naturalised to renounce their Russian citizenship, drawing criticism from experts and the Czech Russian minority

The Czech Republic’s ‘Lex Russi’: A proactive law or a liberal failure?

Controversial amendment to Czech law would affect all Russian nationals living in the country, including those who disagree with Putin's regime

Czechia may require Russians to renounce citizenship for Czech passport

The new rule will not affect Russians who already hold Czech citizenship. However, and crucially, if the amendment is passed then all citizenship applications (Russians applying for Czech citizenship) will be suspended indefinitely. This could be for years or even decades. A civic organization that is against the initiative, Jsme lidé (We Are People), has said that the Czech government's idea is a breach of EU law.

‘We’re Not Matryoshkas’: Critics Round on Planned Restrictions to Russians’ Path to Czech Citizenship

A new law in the works would require Russian nationals to renounce their homeland to apply for Czech citizenship. The amendment is facing pushback for being discriminatory in principle, unnecessary in practice and disingenuous in spirit.

Czech Republic may refuse citizenship for Russians if they don’t refuse from their Russian passport

The Russian Diaspora, which permanently resides in the Czech Republic, has already called the amendment discriminatory, noting that the bill is not supported by any evidence that Russian citizens who have a residence permit in the Czech Republic pose a security threat.