Kiev could revoke citizenship from separatists
Ukrainians have requested that the President revoke the citizenship of all separatists and their collaborators. On the 24th of September, a petition in support of this request was posted on an electronic petition website. Ukraine can make the decision to provide amnesty to some of the separatists from the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) and at the same time revoke their citizenship.
The self-proclaimed head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Alexander Zakharchenko, fears that those involved in the separatist movement will have their citizenship revoked. The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, already stated that it is a possibility and even gave instructions to the government should the measures be approved.
“Then, Kiev will say that they fulfilled the conditions of the peacemaking efforts, but that it can’t negotiate with stateless people. Moreover, these stateless people can’t participate in elections,” Zakharchenko stated. It should be noted that Poroshenko has considered and endorsed the petition concerning the revocation of citizenship for separatists.
However, it was noted in his response that there are no legal grounds for revoking citizenship based on separatist activities in Ukraine.