Natalya’s story
Why did I renounce the Russian citizenship? It is because I don’t want to be a citizen of another state. I have my citizenship – Ukrainian. I don’t need any other. If I needed it, I think, I would go to Russia or another country and obtain it there. It is a matter of principle for me. I think it is wrong when I am faced with the fact that I am a citizen of another country as from this date without my consent.
I still don’t regret it. My attitude and the principle that one state can’t take the territories of another state didn’t change.
A year ago I tried to come into the office in order to write the application for renunciation, but there were huge queues there.
I respect myself, so I decided not to stand in order to say “thank you, I don’t need such gifts.” I sent all necessary documents by registered letter with recorded delivery.
I enclosed even a self-addressed stamped envelope, so they could send my confirmation by mail. I sent it on April 17. Then I checked the website of FMS of Russia: they had amended the form of submission of applications for renunciation and also forbidden to apply by mail, you had to come personally, with your photograph and additional documents. I got a notification that the FMS received my letter. But I have never got the confirmation that my application was submitted for review. And I got the withdrawal certificate itself (withdrawal from the Russian citizenship – Editor’s note) only in the end of January 2015. Thank God, I received it at all – it would be very difficult to obtain a residence permit without it.
I tried to get a residence permit starting from September. I visited the passport office (FMS department) located at Dzerzhinsky street and the main FMS office 6 times. The office where documents were accepted changed several times, and with that both days and hours of service changed as well. Somehow I usually came at the wrong moment: I came according to the schedule of the last time but it was changed, then a man dealing with this issue was absent (at first, he was on sick leave, then he was fired and then another man was taken instead). All this took about 6-8 weeks. Then there were huge queues again, since it was the same room for us and those, who wanted to obtain a residence permit without Crimean registration.
And documents that we needed to bring were added constantly: one day it was a form from the housing and utilities department, another day it was the notarized Ukrainian passport translation, then – the certified translation of a foreign passport.
In addition, starting January 1, a payment of state duty appeared – 3500 rubles (about 1500 hryvnyas at the NBU exchange rate – Editor’s note).
Eventually, when I came to the FMS department being almost in despair in the snow in t5he middle of February, it turned out that they changed the visiting address once again… But I did submit the documents later on the same day – probably, the harsh weather helped that the queue was small.
In the FMS office a young guy started with a rap on the knuckles: he says, why did you come so late? He asked me about the certificate confirming my refusal and said that he wouldn’t accept documents without it at all. He took just the one of the notarized passport translations (although I had to pay for two). Then he began to assail me with questions: in what passport should he put a stamp – in the Ukrainian passport or the foreign one? He said to me: “Make your choice.” I asked him: “What passport is needed according to the rules? It’s your job!”
He answered: “I don’t know. But it will be your choice. However, if it is a stamp in one of them, then you will fall under the article in Ukraine.”
“He has got me all mixed up, I had to call my friends, who had already received a residence permit, and find out in what passport to put a stamp.”
In addition, in this office I was asked to bring 2 folders, 2 envelopes, 20 clean sheets of paper and files along with a confirmation of state duty payment when I would came to obtain the residence permit. I offered to bring also pens and pencils but they refused.
It was in the middle of February. They said that the answer would come within a month (according to the law, it is 7 days – Editor’s note). Now it is already April, but I still don’t have any answer.
Considering the fact that I got the certificate about my refusal after 9 months, I think that I will obtain the residence permit not soon as well. Of course, if I obtain it at all, because they didn’t give any guarantees.
Now I live without the residence permit. I don’t face some special disadvantages: I don’t have any property here and don’t work in Crimea. However, I can’t receive a medical insurance, so it means that I can’t be served in medical institutions free of charge. Therefore, I visit pay hospitals, which are better in quality in any case. That’s why, it is bearable but expensive. Once a bank didn’t want to accept my state duty payment (for obtaining the residence permit). They said that my Ukrainian passport with Crimean registration was invalid. I asked to give me the official denial of admission of my state duty for the FMS of Russia, whose staff sent me to the bank. As a result, they received my payment, but I had to communicate aggressively.
