Vasili Istratov: "Russian passports were issued to South Ossetian residents based on Russian legislation"

80% residents of South Ossetia are Russian citizens and Russian citizenship was issued to them on the basis of Russia's legislation, said Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasili Istratov, speaking on the international legal basis of issuance of the Russian citizenship to South Ossetian residents.

He said the legislation of Russia have allowed to issue Russian citizenship to persons, who reside in the territories of former Soviet Republics, for many years.

Istratov noted that a greater part of Azerbaijani residents also received this citizenship on the basis of this law.

He noted at the same time that there are also Russian citizens in Nagorno Karabakh but it is impossible to speak of their exact number.

/Day.Az/