Letter says 50,000 Syrians apply for Russian citizenship

Moscow has received a letter allegedly representing 50,000 Syrians, who want to obtain Russian citizenship, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

"We face eviction from our land. We prefer death to the refugees wandering," according to the letter, which was mailed to Moscow from the residents of several towns in Damascus province on Oct. 3.

The letter said the West-backed terrorists try to "eliminate the Christians in Syria" and for that end practice "atrocious murders of civilians."

"We consider Russia as a powerful factor of peace and stability in the world. Russia firmly stands for protection of Syria, its people and territorial integrity," according to it.

Describing themselves as highly-educated professionals in medicine, law, engineering and business, the authors said they "don't need financial support as they have everything necessary."

According to UN data, the Syria crisis have left 4.25 million people internally displaced while more than 2.1 million registered as refugees.

Syrian legislation allows a person to have dual citizenship. Although Russian legislation does not formally recognize dual citizenship, it does not prevent a person from having more than one passport.

But to obtain Russian citizenship, a foreign national must live in Russia for at least five years.