Russia eases nationality rules

By Nikolai Gorshkov BBC correspondent in Moscow

The army hopes to attract foreign mercenaries

The Russian parliament has simplified the procedure of acquiring Russian citizenship and allowed foreigners to serve in the Russian army.

The law on Russian citizenship, adopted last year, was criticised by many as draconian, as it made it extremely difficult for nationals of the former republics of the Soviet Union to acquire Russian citizenship.

President Vladimir Putin, who was thought to have backed the law, has heeded the criticism and asked the Duma to review it.

It should be much easier now to become a Russian citizen, especially for nationals of the countries of the former Soviet Union or those who reside and work in Russia as foreigners.

They do not even have to prove they are fluent in Russian, as the law previously required.

The amended legislation cuts back on red tape and even offers incentives for prospective citizens.

For the first time in Russia's modern history, foreigners can join the Russian army, and get Russian citizenship through the fast track.

Labour shortages

The dramatic change is due to the dire demographic situation in Russia.

Its population is shrinking, while the economy is picking up and becoming labour-hungry.

Millions of former Soviet citizens living in Russia and the ex-Soviet republics had been cut off from the legal labour market and were pushed into the grey economy.

The Russian army has been also feeling the crunch, with widespread draft-dodging decimating its ranks.

Now it is staking its hopes on foreign mercenaries but the question is, will there be many of them?

Observers say there may be millions of ex-Soviet nationals who would like to become Russian citizens, but only a handful have so far expressed a desire to join the army.