Steep rise in applications for Czech citizenship

The Interior Ministry reports a steep rise in the number of foreigners applying for Czech citizenship, according to Friday’s edition of the daily Lidové Noviny. The rise is being attributed to the change of legislation which now allows dual citizenship. In January of this year the number of applicants was four times higher than in the same period last year and the February figure was eight times higher –at 1226 applicants. Last year the ministry granted citizenship requests to 947 Ukrainians, 176 Poles, 176 Vietnamese and 142 Russians.