Belarusian Citizens in Russia Now Empowered to Vote and Run in Local Elections

On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin enacted a law permitting Belarusian nationals who reside permanently in Russia to vote in local elections and to stand for local office.

This legislation stems from amendments made in March to a 1998 agreement concerning mutual rights between the two nations. The revised agreement seeks to enhance the legal rights of both Russian and Belarusian citizens living within each other’s territories.

Putin presented the ratified amendments to the Russian parliament earlier this month, with the Federation Council approving the bill last week.

The new law aligns with existing regulations in Belarus that grant Russian citizens the right to engage in local elections there.

According to the state-run TASS news agency, Putin has indicated that this initiative aims to better integrate Belarusians into Russia’s civic framework.

Belarusian officials express hope that this agreement will eventually extend to include voting rights at regional levels to “help establish a common political space.”

Since the signing of the Union State agreement in 1999, Russia and Belarus have formally pursued political integration, aiming for a shared currency, legal system, as well as joint defense and foreign policy.

Analysts from the government-aligned Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies stated that expanding voting rights in Russia will significantly contribute to creating a “human face” for union integration.