LAW OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION on Citizenship of the Russian Federation

Article 14. Granting of civic rights (citizenship) through simplified procedures.

1. Foreign nationals and stateless persons that reached the age of 18 and are capable are authorized to file the application on getting the citizenship of the Russian Federation through simplified procedures without compliance with the paragraph “a” of Article 13 of this Federal Law if these citizens and persons:

(…)

b. were the citizens of the USSR, were or are the residents of the Union Republics, didn’t get the citizenship of those republics and remain stateless persons.

(…)

Prezident of the Russian Federation V. Putin

31 May 2002

(Collection of Legislation of the RF # 22, 2002, p. 5481-5496)