Tajiks receive Russian passports more than anyone else

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, citizens of Tajikistan lead in obtaining Russian citizenship among Central Asian countries.

Photo: Internet

As reported by local sources citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, since the beginning of 2022, 121,089 representatives from Central Asian countries have obtained Russian citizenship, according to the publication. The largest number among those receiving Russian passports were citizens of Tajikistan—74,162 people, followed by citizens of Kazakhstan (21,647 people) and citizens of Uzbekistan (13,099 people). Additionally, 10,632 citizens of Kyrgyzstan and 1,549 citizens of Turkmenistan became Russian citizens.

It is reported that a total of 287,503 people obtained Russian citizenship in just six months, including 104,168 citizens of Ukraine. There are 109,593 Tajik citizens, 78,705 Uzbek citizens, 44,856 Kazakh citizens, 14,137 Kyrgyz citizens, and 3,775 Turkmen citizens holding Russian residence permits.

In 2021, over 205,000 residents of Central Asian countries obtained Russian citizenship. As in this year, Tajikistan led in the number of passports issued, with 103,700 of its natives becoming Russian citizens. In second place were residents of Kazakhstan (49,900 people), in third place were natives of Uzbekistan (31,900), and in fourth place were natives of Kyrgyzstan (19,200). In total, 735,400 foreigners became Russian citizens in 2021—this is a record at least since 2000.

According to official data, natives of Tajikistan accounted for 14.1% of all foreign citizens and 50.5% of Central Asian citizens who obtained Russian citizenship in 2021.

In the first half of 2022, this figure is 26.4% of the total number of foreign citizens and 61.2% of the number of natives from Central Asia.

Although natives of Tajikistan lag behind Ukrainians from the occupied regions of Ukraine in obtaining Russian citizenship in the first half of 2022, they hold the first place among Central Asian countries.