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Federal Drug Agency Wants to Tighten Citizenship Requirements

The Federal Drug Control Service wants to work out plans for Russia to leave an international agreement that allows for simplified procedures for attaining citizenship, agency head Victor Ivanov said Sunday, RIA-Novosti reported.

"These international agreements, in fact, have legally denied law-enforcement officials the right not only to control border crossings by foreigners, but also made it impossible to document the mere fact that a foreigner has entered the country or to obtain related information," Ivanov said at a meeting of the State Anti-Narcotics Committee.

The Federal Drug Control Service has advocated for stricter rules governing citizenship and entry into Russia on more than one occasion. The agency says the simplified rules for obtaining citizenship are often used by drug traffickers.

Ivanov's remarks fell on the professional holiday for drug enforcement officials, the Day of Federal Drug Control Service Employees. This year's holiday marks nine years since the creation of the anti-drug agency, ITAR-TASS news agency said.

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