Stateless in Serbia: Russians and Belarusians left in limbo

NOVI SAD: More than 20 Russians and Belarusians living in Serbia have become "stateless" after not being granted the Serbian nationality they had applied for.

Most have lived in Serbia for more than a decade - buying property, starting businesses and raising children born in the country - where they are now basically trapped, unable to leave.

Up to two years after renouncing their original nationality, which is required under Serbian rules, none has received a clear explanation from authorities for the delay.

"It has now been almost a year and a half that I've been without any citizenship," former Russian citizen Igor Grishin told AFP.

"And I don't know how long it will last," he added. "A month, a year... or the rest of my life."

The 58-year-old health podcaster has lived for 11 years in the northern town of Sremski Karlovci with his wife and two daughters.

His wife and older daughter obtained Serbian citizenship earlier, while the younger acquired it by birth.

"I cannot travel with my family," Grishin said. "I couldn't go to my mother's funeral in the Russian Federation and I cannot even visit her grave," he added.

Grishin is in contact with more than 20 others in the same situation though these are only the known cases.

Those spoken to claim they have never expressed any political views, either about Russia or Serbia, which in the past has cost some Russians in Serbia their residency there.

All said they had passed all security checks and renounced their original nationality as the final step.

"Serbia gave us confirmation -- a guarantee -- that it would accept us if we renounced our citizenship," Sergei Stets, a former Belarusian citizen who lives in Novi Sad, told AFP.

"I've now been without any citizenship for a year and a half," said the 46-year-old former mountain bike coach from Minsk.

"I feel as if we're not wanted neither there, nor here," he said.

Once the selector of Serbia's national team, he had to give it up because he is unable to leave the country, and now gets by delivering meals on his bike.

His wife, a horse-riding and equine therapy instructor, faces the same issue, having previously worked across the region.

"I wrote to the police several times. The answer was always the same -- the documentation is under review, and I need to wait," he said.

The Ombudsman's Office confirmed that they "are aware of the issue", adding that "the review of complaints is ongoing".

Every country has the right to conduct additional checks, said experts on migration and asylum.

"Although they completed all procedures and renounced their previous citizenship, the process can still take time," Rados Djurovic, a lawyer and director of the Asylum Protection Center NGO, told AFP.

However, "there is no justification for keeping people in an unregulated status long-term," he added.

Djurovic said outside factors linked to "state policy and international relations" may also be to blame for the delays.

Proposed amendments to the Citizenship Law in October 2023 aimed at simplifying the process for foreigners were withdrawn after objections from the European Commission.

"The more liberal reforms drew criticism from Europe, with concerns that easing citizenship rules could pose risks to Western countries," with Serbian citizens allowed to travel freely in the EU without a visa.

Despite being a candidate for EU membership, Serbia maintains close ties with Russia and has not joined Western sanctions -- including visa restrictions -- imposed on Moscow.

As a result, demand for Serbian passports has surged, with between 80,000 and 110,000 Russians settling in the country in recent years, according to the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP).

While some applicants remain in limbo, others notably influential Russians, have reportedly obtained citizenship through special procedures.

Last month the respected outlet KRIK revealed that 204 Russian nationals were granted Serbian passports for "national interest" reasons.

The list includes individuals linked to Russia's FSB security service, war profiteers from Ukraine and oligarchs under international sanctions.

Serbian authorities have not commented on the report.