Oligarch renounces Russian citizenship over Ukraine war

The billionaire banker and entrepreneur Oleg Tinkov has renounced his Russian citizenship because of the conflict in Ukraine, which he has previously criticised.

“I have taken the decision to exit my Russian citizenship. I can’t and won’t be associated with a fascist country that started a war with their peaceful neighbour and killing innocent people daily,” Tinkov said.

“I hope more prominent Russian businessmen will follow me, so it weakens Putin’s regime and his economy, and put him eventually to defeat,” he wrote on Instagram.

He shared an image of a certificate confirming the “ending” of his Russian citizenship. “I hate Putin’s Russia, but love all Russians, who are clearly against this crazy war!” Tinkov wrote.

The colourful billionaire is one of Russia’s best-known self-made tycoons and founded the online Tinkoff Bank. The bank is one of Russia’s largest lenders, behind state giants Sberbank and VTB. Tinkoff has about 20 million customers.

Tinkov, 54, has strongly criticised Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, describing it as an “insane war” as he called on the west to end the “massacre”.

He has also been targeted by British sanctions imposed soon after the conflict began in late February.

He was previously arrested in London in 2020 on charges of tax evasion in the US. He was later released on bail and treated for leukaemia in London.

He quit his role as CEO of Tinkoff in 2020 and the bank has distanced itself from his comments.