She could not receive a Russian passport unless she was registered with the local police.

"I wanted to get a Russian passport, but they would not give it to me," he said.

She obtained a Russian passport in order to not count against the team's allowed number of foreign players.

There are people with Russian passports but who work in the interests of foreign states.

More than 80% of the Abkhazian population received Russian passports by 2006.

He was only the second American player ever to receive a Russian passport.

"Some, we hear, even burn their Russian passports to break off all the connections with home."

Yet up to 2010, foreigners could only serve in Russia's armed forces after getting a Russian passport.

It is also based on the mass issuing of Russian passports in these regions.

He hasn't returned home since because he doesn't have a Russian passport and he's leery of possible problems.