Russian tycoon Oleg Tinkov renounces citizenship over Ukraine war

Billionaire banker says he won’t be related ‘with a fascist nation’ that’s ‘killing harmless folks each day’.

Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov says he has determined to surrender his citizenship due to the battle in Ukraine, which he had beforehand criticised as “loopy”.

“I’ve taken the choice to exit my Russian citizenship. I can’t and gained’t be related to a fascist nation, that began a battle with their peaceable neighbour and killing harmless folks each day,” Tinkov wrote on Instagram on Monday.

“I hope extra outstanding Russian businessmen will observe me, so it weakens [President Vladimir] Putin’s regime and his financial system, and put him ultimately to defeat,” added the 54-year-old, who has been based mostly exterior Russia in recent times.

The banking tycoon shared an image of a certificates confirming the “ending” of his Russian citizenship.

“I hate Putin’s Russia, however love all Russians who’re clearly towards this loopy battle!” Tinkov mentioned, in line with AFP information company.

Tinkov is the founding father of the net Tinkoff Financial institution, one in all Russia’s largest lenders counting some 20 million clients. He additionally owns about 35 p.c of Cyprus-based TCS Group Holding, whose steady of corporations below the Tinkoff model spans sectors from banking and insurance coverage to cell companies.

In April, Tinkov had claimed that 90 p.c of his countrymen had been towards Putin’s choice to invade Ukraine in late February and referred to as on Western leaders to assist finish the “bloodbath”.

Tinkov has been focused by British sanctions imposed quickly after the battle started.

He was beforehand arrested in London in 2020 on expenses of tax evasion in america. He was later launched on bail and handled for leukaemia in London.

He give up his function as Tinkoff CEO in 2020 and the financial institution has distanced itself from his sturdy criticism of the battle.