Malta sold its passports to sanctioned Russians—FT

Several Russian citizens who are on the EU and US sanctions lists due to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine have received Maltese passports under the “golden visa” scheme.

This was reported by the Financial Times, whose journalists refer to leaked documents and official data.

Among such Russians, in particular, Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan fell under EU sanctions due to Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

The Maltese passport helps Avdolyan and other Russians with such a document to partially circumvent the ban on entry to the EU.

On the list of those who received Maltese passports, there were also three people who later fell under US sanctions due to the war in Ukraine and three more people who fell under Ukrainian sanctions.

Among those individuals is Yevgenia Bernova, who the US has charged with “fraudulently acquiring dual-use equipment” that could be used for military purposes.

Bernova said she “obtained Maltese citizenship after a thorough and multi-level vetting process” and that she has “genuine ties to Malta,” including a business that she said was “a real investment in Malta and has nothing illegal or hidden.”

Bernova said her inclusion on the sanctions list was a “mistake by the US authorities.”

The passport holders are part of a larger group of 16 people who successfully paid for Maltese citizenship despite later being sanctioned or convicted of crimes.

At least one of the Maltese passports was reportedly later revoked.

According to leaked information, Russian millionaire Pavel Melnikov obtained a Maltese passport in 2015 and a St. Kitts and Nevis passport in 2012 with the help of Henley.

In 2018, Finnish authorities raided his property in the Finnish archipelago of Turku. In February, he was convicted in Finland of tax and accounting fraud. His Maltese citizenship has since been revoked.

Melnikov has appealed the ruling and said he would also appeal the revocation of his Maltese passport.

The FT recalls that Malta is the last EU country that still offers to buy its citizenship. In this regard, the European Commission has filed a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the EU to stop this scheme.

The EU Commission claims that this scheme “undermines the essence and integrity of EU citizenship.” The court is expected to issue a ruling next week.

Malta requires applicants for citizenship to make a one-time investment of at least €600,000, purchase or lease real estate, donate €10,000 to charity, and reside in the country for three years. The residency requirement can be reduced to one year for those who invest €750,000.

Amid criticism, Maltese authorities say they have stepped up due diligence checks and have barred citizens of Russia and Belarus from receiving their passports.