The Security Service of Ukraine reported that the mayor of Odesa Gennadiy Trukhanov remains a citizen of the Russian Federation. According to the intelligence service, in 2015 he was allegedly issued a Russian passport with a 10-year validity; although the internal passport of the Russian Federation was cancelled in 2017, this does not deprive a person of Russian citizenship.
Tax footprint in Russia
According to the data cited by the SBU, the Russian database of the Federal Tax Service allegedly contains identification number (TIN), associated with Trukhanov - facts that the SBU considers to be additional indicators of connection with Russia.
Trukhanov's reaction and further steps
Gennadiy Trukhanov himself denies having Russian citizenship and calls the decision to terminate his Ukrainian citizenship a «falsification». The mayor stated that he was preparing lawsuits and was ready to prove his case in national and international courts.
Meanwhile, a presidential commission considered the termination of Trukhanov's Ukrainian citizenship; the president later signed a decree terminating the citizenship of several individuals, including the mayor of Odesa, a decision that has already provoked political and legal reactions.
Why it matters
The presence of Russian citizenship among officials during the ongoing large-scale Russian invasion is not only symbolic, but also of security importance - a matter of loyalty, access to foreign registers and possible legal consequences. Initiatives on deprivation of citizenship and vetting have caused public outcry and legal debate.
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