Russian bill could see annexation of neighbours: report
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
16.03.2017 12:08
Two Russian deputies want passports to be issued to Russian-speakers from neighbouring states, including Poland, which could lead to the annexation of those countries, claims a Radio Free Europe podcast.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons/MediaPhoto.Org.
According to the US-funded broadcaster’s Brian Whitmore, Russia is “weaponising passports”, having “introduced legislation that would grant Russian citizenship to any Russian speaker who lived in the Soviet Union”.
Whitmore reported that under the proposed new law, Russian-speakers from the Baltic states, Finland and Poland would also be eligible for Russian passports.
“If this thing passes, it would mark a clear escalation in the Kremlin's drive to restore its imperial dominance over its old satellites,” Whitmore said.
He added that “passportisation” would allow for Kremlin “meddling in the affairs of its neighbours under the pretext of protecting Russian citizens”.
He also suggested that the bill could lead to Russian annexation of its neighbours.
Whitmore said that the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia was preceded by the Kremlin issuing Russian passports to residents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which, according to the podcast’s host, became “de facto Russian protectorates” as a result. (vb/pk)