MULTIPLE CITIZENSHIP IN UKRAINE AND MECHANISMS FOR ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICE: RISKS TO NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the introduction of the institution of multiple
citizenship in Ukraine, to examine its constitutional and legal foundations, and to assess the feasibility of
restrictions on access to public office for persons holding multiple citizenships under martial law and within the
framework of European integration processes.
The methodological framework of the research is based on a combination of general scientific and special legal
methods, including formal-legal analysis, systemic-structural method, logical-semantic method, comparative
legal analysis, and examination of legislative initiatives and expert opinions. Elements of historical-legal analysis
were also applied to explore the evolution of the principle of single citizenship.
The study establishes that the adoption of Law of Ukraine No. 4502-IX on the legalization of multiple
citizenship marked a significant stage in the transformation of the national citizenship institution and constituted
a response to demographic, migration, and security challenges. At the same time, legislative initiatives aimed at
restricting access to public service for persons with multiple citizenship, in particular Draft Law No. 14230,
revealed a number of legal conflicts related to the principle of equal access to public service, guarantees enshrined
in Article 38 of the Constitution of Ukraine, and the requirements of international standards. It is substantiated
that the absence of clear verification procedures and proper regulatory mechanisms may create risks both to
national security and to the protection of human rights.
The study substantiates the necessity of developing a balanced model of legal regulation of multiple citizenship
that would reconcile the state’s security interests with constitutional guarantees of rights and freedoms, as well as
provide transparent and proportionate verification mechanisms for candidates seeking positions in public service.
The results of the research may be used in the process of improving legislation on citizenship and public service,
drafting laws regulating multiple citizenship, and in the law-enforcement practice of public authorities in order to
ensure a balance between national security and the protection of constitutional rights.

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