THE INSTITUTE OF KAZAKH CITIZENSHIP BY KAZAKHSTANI LEGISLATION

Abstract

The significance of citizenship in any legal system is of paramount and copious importance. This article discusses notion, the concept of citizenship and issues of citizenship around �KZ� legislation. Features of citizenship in KZ are appropriately disclosed. Particular attention is paid to the demands of taking Kazakh citizenship, to the privileges and consequences. The conclusion was that it is worth considering before getting new citizenship or acquiring foreign nationality. Kazakhstan adopted its Law on Citizenship on 20 December 1991. This law was scheduled to come into effect on 2 March 1992. According to general reports, the law is supposed to recognize the equality of all nationals regardless of social and property status, nationality, religion, political affiliation and other convictions. The law allows ethnic Kazakhs who currently live outside Kazakhstan to return to the land of their forefathers. Approximately three million Kazakhs are believed to reside outside Kazakhstan, many of whom are in China and Mongolia. The law apparently does not recognize dual nationality. Kazakhs in the diaspora-mainly ethnic Kazakhs and their descendants who fled because of Stalin’s forced collectivization policies in the 1920’s and 1930’s-are encouraged returning to Kazakhstan. Any ethnic Kazakh living abroad is entitled to Kazakhstani citizenship and may retain any other citizenship he or she may already have. Anyone else must apply for permission to immigrate and must renounce any other citizenship. Ethnic Kazakh citizens already living in Kazakhstan, as well as non ethnic Kazakh citizens, are not permitted to obtain another citizenship without losing their Kazakhstani citizenship.
Key words: citizenship, nationality, national identity, membership, individual, and human rights.