Russian-Turkmenian commission on dual citizenship to start working in the near future

The first session of the Russo-Turkmen Commission on Dual Citizenship will be held in the near future.

Russian Foreign Ministry official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told a news conference at RIA Novosti that the session was expected to take place in Moscow as soon as possible.

Yakovenko also said that the day before the Russian Foreign Ministry had addressed a note to the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenia, which laid out Moscow's approach to the issue. The Russian side presumes that Ashkhabad would not take any action with regard to the individuals with dual citizenship residing in Turkmenia, which could lead to their rights' abuse, Yakovenko explained.

He also reminded that, according to international rules the Agreement on Dual Citizenship between Russia and Turkmenia of 1993 has no retroactive effect. "It means that those individuals who have dual citizenship, will retain it," Yakovenko clarified.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that, on the Russian side, the Commission would be co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Fedotov.

"I do not think that the note we sent will be ignored," Yakovenko emphasised. According to him, the Turkmenian side is ready for a dialogue, as President Putin told the media the day before.