Oleg Tinkov, one of the first Russian billionaires to speak out against the country’s invasion of Ukraine, has renounced his citizenship.
“I have taken the decision to exit my Russian citizenship. I can’t and won’t be associated with a fascist country that started a war with their peaceful neighbor and killing innocent people daily. It is a shame for me to continue to hold this passport,” Tinkov wrote on his official Instagram page.
Russian millionaire expressed the hope that other businessmen would follow him. “I hope more prominent Russian businessmen will follow me, so it weakens Putin’s regime and his economy and put him eventually to defeat,” he said.
Tinkov attached to the post a photo of a document confirming that his request to renounce Russian citizenship was granted by the authorities of the Russian Federation.
Tinkov was one of the few wealthy Russian businessmen to publicly condemn President Vladimir Putin. In an April 19 Instagram post, he described the war in Ukraine as "crazy", and labeled anyone who supported it a "moron." Following his criticism, in April Tinkov was forced to sell his family's 35% stake in the digital bank he founded in 2006 to Russia's richest person Vladimir Potanin.
In a statement, Tinkov said it was "the perfect time for me to retire and devote more of my time to looking after my health and my beloved family." Tinkov has been undergoing treatment for leukemia for several years.
Later in May, the businessman said that the Russian authorities forced him to sell his stake in TCS Group “for a penny” after he opposed the war.
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FOURTH BILLIONAIRE RENOUNCES RUSSIAN CITIZENSHIP OVER UKRAINE
