A refugee from Abkhazia was stripped of Russian citizenship for extremism in Nizhny Novgorod.

      26 August 2025 09:18

      [249]

      Society

      The Nizhny Novgorod court denied a native of Abkhazia’s claim against the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in which he contested the decision to strip him of his Russian citizenship. The basis for the loss of status was a conviction in a criminal case related to extremist activity, writes Kommersant Privolzhye.

      The man moved to Russia with his family as a refugee and obtained citizenship through a simplified procedure. However, in 2023 he was found guilty under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist religious organization. The court gave him a suspended sentence.

      This article is among those that can lead to loss of citizenship if it was acquired not by birthright but through naturalization.

      During the proceedings the plaintiff insisted that he has lived in Russia for a long time, is married to a Russian citizen and is positively described by his place of work. Nevertheless, the court considered these circumstances insufficient to grant the claim.

      The court referred to explanations by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, according to which the commission of a number of crimes, including those of an extremist nature, may indicate that false information was provided when obtaining citizenship — in particular, about one’s willingness to comply with Russian laws and the Constitution.

      Nevertheless, despite the loss of citizenship, the man was not barred from living in Russia. He may continue to work and live with his family.

      Earlier it was reported that a man from Nizhny Novgorod received nine years under a strict regime for participating in an armed Ukrainian formation.

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