Zelenskyy strips "individuals holding Russian passports" of Ukrainian citizenship, including Odesa mayor
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he has signed a decree concerning certain "individuals who have been found to hold Russian citizenship", without naming names. The Security Service of Ukraine has confirmed that one of them is Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter) following a security meeting
Quote: "Also confirmed was the fact that certain individuals hold Russian citizenship – relevant decisions regarding them have been prepared. I have signed the decree."
Details: The decree does not specify who is affected. Ukrainska Pravda has asked the President's Office for comment.
Update: The national joint 24/7 newscast reported, citing "a source within the government", that the decree applies to Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov, Oleh Tsarov, a former MP from the pro-Russian Opposition Platform – For Life party, and ballet dancer Sergei Polunin.
Background:
- A petition calling on the president to strip Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship gathered the 25,000 signatures required for it to be considered by the president in less than 24 hours.
- Myroslav Otkovych, who started the petition, argued that journalists have repeatedly published materials suggesting Trukhanov was likely to hold Russian citizenship.
- Trukhanov has categorically denied possessing a Russian passport.
- Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko, who was assaulted three times in 2018 and fatally wounded one of his assailants, Ivan Kuznetsov, the third time he was attacked, has accused Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov of ordering the attacks. Trukhanov has made no comment on the allegation.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!