Residents of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions who hold Russian citizenship will now be able to obtain or replace their Russian passports without traveling to Russia. The change was implemented through a decree signed by Vladimir Putin on July 17.

According to the decree, the new measure is intended "to protect the rights and freedoms of man and citizen," guided by the Russian Constitution and international law. It establishes that citizens of the "Republic of Abkhazia" and the "Republic of South Ossetia" who have already acquired Russian citizenship have the right to apply for a Russian passport from within their respective territories if they have not previously received one. The decree also allows them to apply for a replacement passport from within these regions.

The Russian government is now responsible for establishing the specific procedures for issuing and replacing the passports. This includes the possibility of using authorized officials to manage the process directly within the territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region. The decree took effect on the date of its official publication and will remain valid until August 1, 2028. However, its provisions do not apply to those who obtained Russian citizenship under a separate presidential decree issued on May 17, 2025.