Serbia has imposed an unofficial ban on granting citizenship to nationals of Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus – media

Serbia has imposed an informal ban on granting citizenship to individuals from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus.

This information reported according to The Moscow Times, citing sources.

A consultant familiar with the situation stated that although the ban has not been officially announced, in practice, the issuance of Serbian passports to citizens of the mentioned post-Soviet countries has effectively been halted.

For example, more than 20 former Russian citizens have become stateless, having renounced their Russian passports in order to obtain Serbian citizenship—but still have not received it.

These individuals have already submitted requests for clarification to local authorities but have not received any substantive response. As of now, their legal status remains undefined.

The publication suggests that the suspension of citizenship issuance may be due to pressure from the European Union. In 2022, the Serbian government planned to launch a “golden passport” program, which would have made it easier for foreigners— including Russians working in Serbia— to obtain citizenship. The minimum residency period was supposed to be shortened to one year.

However, the European Commission warned Belgrade that such a move could lead to the suspension of visa-free travel between Serbia and the EU, and that issuing citizenship to investors posed a threat to the EU’s internal security.

As a reminder, on May 8, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, speaking from Red Square in Moscow, said he was not afraid of punishment from the European Union for attending the Victory Day parade in Russia.

In March, Western media reported that the United States was also preparing to significantly tighten entry rules for citizens of Russia, Belarus, and dozens of other countries.