Banking tycoon renounces citizenship of ‘fascist’ Russia over Ukraine war

Russian banking tycoon Oleg Tinkov renounced his Russian citizenship in a public rebuke of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, saying he “can’t and won’t be associated with a fascist country.”

He added Tuesday that he plans to revoke his name from Tinkoff Bank, the Russian commercial bank he founded in 2006, writing: “I hate when my brand/name is associated with the bank that collaborates with killers and blood.”

The businessman announced that he had ended his citizenship in an Instagram post on Monday, sharing an image of the official document certifying his renunciation, which was dated Oct. 26. “I hope more prominent Russian businessmen will follow me, so it weakens Putin’s regime and his economy,” he said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added: “I hate Putin’s Russia, but love all Russians, who are clearly against this crazy war!”

That post was later deleted, with Tinkov saying Tuesday that it had “mysteriously disappeared” and speculating that it could have been the work of “Kremlin trolls.”

Tinkov, who is reported to also hold Cypriot citizenship, is one of a few prominent Russian businessmen who have publicly criticized the invasion. He came out against the war in February and later denounced the invasion as “insane.” He claims that he was forced to sell his stake in Tinkoff Bank under pressure from Kremlin officials.