Sanction move from the EU to Russians and Belarusians: “Cancel the golden passport program”
The European Commission has asked the governments of its member states to end national programs, also known as “golden passports”, that allow citizenship to investors. The Commission called for the suspension of the process of granting citizenship to those coming from Belarus and Russia in exchange for money.
The resolution supports the European Parliament’s effort to reduce and control billions of euros in citizenship and visa procedures, which the EU has long viewed as a security risk.
It is feared that some of those who were put on the sanctions list by the European Union after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have obtained EU passports or visas through this program.
According to the news in the Voice of America (VOA), the European Commission said, “Some Russian or Belarusian citizens who are subject to sanctions or who significantly support the war in Ukraine are granted EU citizenship or EU ‘citizenship’, including traveling freely in the Schengen area under these programs. may have gained privileged access to
Since the start of the Russian invasion, which Moscow calls a special operation, the EU has sanctioned nearly 700 top politicians, businessmen and military personnel accused of supporting the Kremlin.
The Commission called for an immediate end to existing national programs for the sale of passports. Currently only Malta, Cyprus and Bulgaria have such programmes. These three EU members have committed to ending the programmes.
SANCTION MOVEMENTS INCREASING
Brussels also stated that it is necessary to check whether the governments of the union provide golden passports or visas to the sanctioned people.
The European Commission reported that it is not known whether there are any sanctioned beneficiaries of the programme. The Commission spokesperson did not comment on whether a list of visa and passport holders from EU countries is required.
The Commission explained that countries should decide for themselves whether to revoke such passports and immediately withdraw their residence permits.
Various EU countries are implementing golden visa and golden passport schemes.
The Commission, while refraining from calling for an end to “golden visa” programs, in turn demanded tightening of controls and asked EU countries to suspend the issuance of residence permits for Russian and Belarusian citizens.
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