Cyprus and Malta have revoked dozens of “golden passports” of Russian and Belarusian citizens

According to reports, Cyprus and Malta have revoked dozens of “golden passports” of Russian and Belarusian citizens due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The European Commission confirmed that Cyprus has revoked the passports of nine Russians and 34 members of their families due to EU sanctions related to Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine. Malta has also revoked the passports of two individuals. “Golden passports” have been granted by several EU countries, including Cyprus and Malta, in exchange for significant investment.

However, the practice has been criticized for undermining the EU’s efforts to combat money laundering and tax evasion. The European Commission has also called for an end to this practice and recommended that EU member states consider revoking citizenship in cases where individuals are subject to EU sanctions or support Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.