Following the illegal “referendum” and annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine as well as the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Yaroslav Mar signed a Decree On impeding the malicious activity of the Russian Federation and implementing sanctions against Russian and Belarusian residents.
The Decree provides for immediate excommunication without the right to appeal and restoration of citizenship for any Lostislandian who praises the Russian Federation and its self-styled “president” Vladimir Putin, experiences positive emotions in connection with Russian policies or fails to recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine. For the purpose of the Decree, praising refers to supporting the 2022 annexation of Southern and Eastern Ukraine, the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the 2014 annexation of Crimea, the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine, the “Russian world” ideology, celebrating the so-called “victory day” on May 9, demonstrating the so-called “ribbon of Saint George” or the letters Z, V, and O in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, except for condemnation purposes.
The Decree also implements sanctions on Russian and Belarusian residents who seek Lostislandic citizenship. While in the past, they were subjected to the standard background check by the Federal Intelligence and Security Service, now they will be admitted to citizenship —other requirements notwithstanding— only after having demonstrated to the immigration authorities in a due and convincing way their negative attitude to the Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin’s policies and a record of opposition activism in these countries. Applicants who reside in the Russian Federation or Belarus will be treated with a presumption of guilt and as a threat to the national security of the Federal Republic unless and until demonstrated otherwise to the immigration authorities in a due and convincing way.
The Decree specifically targets residents, rather than citizens of Russia and Belarus, and will apply to all residents of these countries regardless of their nationality, but will not apply to Russian and Belarusian nationals with overseas residency. In addition, the Federal Intelligence and Security Service was instructed to increase population policing in order to timely identify unorthodox, unreliable, and astraying citizens, prevent thoughtcrime and minimize the damage to the national security of Lostisland.