In May 2023, russian propagandists are going to promote the message that the majority of the occupied territories are citizens of the russia 

To do this, they subject Ukrainians to forced passportization. Vira Yastrebova, lawyer, director of the NGO “Shidna Pravozahisna grupa” (Eastern Human Rights Group), told about this during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine – Odesa.

“We, human rights defenders, believe the propagandists will start spreading these messages in May – the propagandists will spread these messages that people are refusing on their own. And that in the occupied territories the majority are citizens of the Russian Federation,” – the human rights activist said.

To do this, the occupiers create occupation administrations in the occupied territories, through which they carry out forced passportization, Vira Yastrebova noted.

“According to our information, for this the russian federation is subject to terror through the occupation administrations and the so-called law enforcement agencies. Local employers are given instructions to hire only those who take a passport of the russian federation. If people refuse, they are summoned to a conversation with the so-called law enforcement agencies and receive written explanations regarding the refusals,” – the human rights activist said.

She also added that the invaders have simplified the procedure for renunciation of Ukrainian citizenship.

“To do this, you need to write an application to the occupational migration service. Many people refuse, they are forced. They also require written explanations. ‘Especially uncommunicative and incomprehensible’ are being prosecuted for discrediting the russian army,” – Vira Yastrebova said.

She also added that a lot of people refuse to take russian passports. They are waiting for liberation.

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