According to the publication, these include Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan, who is under the sanctions of the European Union, but can partially circumvent the ban on entry into the EU, since since 2015 it has a Maltese passport acquired according to the Golden Visa scheme.
Avdolyan is one of the seven people who have received the citizenship of Malta, and subsequently fell under the sanctions of the United States, EU or Ukraine because of the Russian war against Ukraine, the publication says. The publication refers to the names published in the government’s government newspaper, and the data obtained as a result of the leakage of documents. Also among the owners of such passports are the Russian Evgeny Bernova. The United States believe that it contributed to the export of equipment to government end users in Russia.
At least one of the Maltese passports was subsequently canceled.
Malta is the last EU country, which still offers citizenship for money. The European Commission, which appealed to the European Court with a request to stop this scheme, is dissatisfied with this, the publication notes. The European Commission claims that the scheme “undermines both the essence and integrity of the EU citizenship.” “The EU values are not sold. The schemes for obtaining citizenship by investors are a violation of the EU legislation, they should be canceled,” the commission said. The court will be expected to make a decision on April 29.
People buying the Maltese passports become EU citizens with the right to live within the bloc. They can easily open accounts in EU banks and enterprises, as well as travel to many other countries without a visa.
