A European country has continued to protect Ukrainian refugees and has tightened requirements for Russians.

The President of the Czech Republic signed an amendment to the law regarding the protection of Ukrainian refugees from Russian aggression

The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, signed an amendment to the law that continues to protect Ukrainian refugees from Russian aggression. This news was reported by the publication Denník N.

The document also provides for criminal liability for illegal activities in favor of a foreign state and strengthens the requirements for Russian citizens applying for Czech citizenship.

For illegal activities in favor of a foreign state, a penalty of imprisonment for up to 5 years is provided, and in conditions of martial law - up to 15 years. This applies to individuals working for a foreign country or organization 'with the intent to threaten or harm the constitutional order, sovereignty, territorial integrity, defense, or security of the Czech Republic.'

Some deputies opposed these changes, stating that the wording is vague and general, which could lead to abuse. They intend to challenge the amendment in the Constitutional Court.

According to the amendments, Russian citizens can obtain Czech citizenship only after renouncing their Russian citizenship and providing relevant confirmations. However, critics point out the impossibility of obtaining documents for some individuals who do not support the Russian regime. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the law has exceptions for asylum seekers.

It is worth noting that there are about 380,000 Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic. The Czech Ministry of the Interior also proposed changes to the Lex Ukraine law, which allows refugees to transition to long-term residence under the condition of financial independence. The police are also conducting checks on the residences of Ukrainian refugees to prevent abuse of the assistance system.

In addition, the Czech Republic will be one of the first countries to open a Hub for Ukrainian Unity to preserve the national identity of Ukrainians abroad.