MOSCOW, August 4 (RAPSI) - A law on penalties for concealing dual citizenship took effect in Russia on August 4, RIA Novosti writes.

President Vladimir Putin signed the law in late June. This law obliges Russian citizens to notify the Federal Migration Service within two months of acquiring foreign citizenship. Failure to do so would result in a fine of up to 200,000 rubles ($5,598) or up to 400 hours of compulsory community service. It was submitted to the lower house on March 31 by Andrei Lugovoi (LDPR).

If citizens notify the Federal Migration Service about their dual citizenship untimely or submit notifications containing deliberate misrepresentations they will face fines of up to 1,000 rubles (app.$30).

Those who fail to notify the Federal Migration Service may face criminal charges.

On January 1, 2016, the law will take effect in Crimea. Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum on March 16 in which the majority of the region’s population voted to join Russia.