February 20, 2026

Dual Nationals Are Traitors, Again


Dual Nationals Are Traitors, Again
Passports from different countries. The Russian Life files.

On February 9, Novaya Gazeta Evropa revealed that Russian authorities are planning to crack down on dual citizenship by adding new penalties. According to the article, the Kremlin is reverting to the Soviet notion that citizens with second passports are traitors.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed holding Russian citizens criminally liable if they fail to disclose a residency permit or citizenship from another country upon their arrival in Russia. Historian Rustam Alexander, author of Novaya Gazeta Evropa's exposé, claimed Russia is seeking to "identify potential traitors in advance." Since citizenship is viewed as a symbol of loyalty to the state, holding another passport is a red flag for authorities (no pun intended).

Hostility towards dual citizenship in Russia is not new. During the Soviet period, it was strictly forbidden to hold a second nationality. International travel and emigration were also severely restricted. Those who renounced their Soviet citizenship and sought asylum abroad often faced danger. For example, ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev refused to return to the USSR and sought political asylum in France. The performer was deemed a "defector" and sentenced in absentia to seven years in prison.

In 1990, the Soviet Union allowed for voluntary resignation of citizenship.

Unlike Soviet-era policies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' latest initiative does not affect the right to renounce one's citizenship nor the ability to travel. Alexander claimed the latest initiative exacerbates "internal toxicity," leaving room for "administrative charges and vaguely worded criminal charges." According to the historian, "Dual citizenship [ceased] to be just a legal status and instead [has become] the mark of a potential traitor."

You Might Also Like

Elite Children Profit from War
  • February 19, 2026

Elite Children Profit from War

In over three years of full-scale invasion, the children of Russia's political elite amassed billions of rubles thanks to the country’s high-interest key rate.
Russia's Streaming Content Crackdown
  • February 16, 2026

Russia's Streaming Content Crackdown

Starting March 1, anyone can report films and TV shows streamed on social media and video services that discredit traditional Russian values.
Slowing Down, Heating Up
  • February 18, 2026

Slowing Down, Heating Up

Russian authorities may be moving to block Telegram. But could the decision backfire?  
A Spike for Spiritual Services
  • February 15, 2026

A Spike for Spiritual Services

The Russian Orthodox Church has seen a sharp increase in prices for things like baptisms, weddings, and funerals over the last few years.
Kids with Knives, Guns, and Fire
  • February 14, 2026

Kids with Knives, Guns, and Fire

Authorities are concerned about the rising incidence of violence in Russian schools, where children attack classmates, teachers, security staff, and even janitors.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955