The ultimate citizenship test. Anyone recently granted Russian citizenship can now expect to be press-ganged into the military to fight in Ukraine. How did a Russian passport become synonymous with a ticket to the frontline? — Novaya Gazeta Europe
novayagazeta.eu
In recent weeks the Russian authorities have been conducting raids and roundups ostensibly aimed at combatting illegal migration, the real targets of which appear to be recently naturalised Russian citizens who haven’t yet registered with their local draft office. Who are the people applying for Russian citizenship these days, and what are they risking by doing so?

Last month, police roundups euphemistically called “migration raids” took place in several Russian regions, with police and military conscription officials targeting food markets and agricultural warehouses, both places where migrant labourers are typically employed. Anyone found to have recently obtained Russian citizenship but who hadn’t registered with the local conscription office was reportedly either issued with draft notices on the spot or taken to the military authorities directly.