Cyprus and Malta annul dozens of ‘golden passports’ belonging to Russian nationals sanctioned by E.U.

Cyprus and Malta revoked citizenship obtained in exchange for investment from dozens of Russian nationals, and members of their families, who are subject to E.U. sanctions. Der Spiegel reports that, in response to a request by European Parliament member Moritz Kerner, Cyprus annulled nine “golden passports” issued to Russian nationals who have been sanctioned, as well as another 34 passports belonging to their relations. Malta revoked two sanctioned Russian nationals’ citizenship.

People who got rich under Putin “should feel the consequences,” said Kerner, adding that “people who are on the E.U.’s sanctions list don’t deserve E.U. citizenship.”

In March 2022, soon after the start of Russian troops’ full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission called on Cyprus and Malta to halt the “golden passport” programs and revoke citizenship from Russian nationals who appeared on the sanctions list. 

As Der Spiegel notes, even though Russian nationals can no longer get a “golden passport” from Cyprus or Malta, there are still ways to travel freely in the E.U. Vanuatu and Montenegro, for example, both grant citizenship in exchange for investment, and both countries’ passports allow for visa-free travel to the E.U.