In an expected move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stripped the mayor of Odessa, Gennady Trukhanov, of his Ukrainian citizenship after accusing him of holding Russian citizenship.
He was also automatically dismissed from his position as mayor, after Zelensky signed a decree depriving him of his citizenship, according to what Ukrainian media reported on Tuesday.
In addition, Zelensky assigned the Ukrainian army to establish a military administration for the city of Odessa.
So what’s the story?
This decision came against the backdrop of a petition demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian citizenship from Trukhanov, which garnered more than 25,000 votes.
This petition, launched by Ukrainian activist Miroslav Otkovych, was published on the Ukrainian president’s website, and received the support of more than 25,000 people, according to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath correspondent.
Recently published documents and press investigations reported that Trukhanov possessed a Russian passport and a Russian tax number. This means that the mayor of Odessa holds dual citizenship, which contradicts the Ukrainian constitution, which establishes the principle of single citizenship.
On the other hand, Trukhanov, in a video he posted yesterday on his social media accounts, denied that he held Russian citizenship, stressing that he was subject to Russian sanctions.
It is noteworthy that in 2016, Alexander Borovik, Deputy Mayor of Odessa, stated that 29 out of 64 deputies in the City Council hold Russian citizenship, including Trukhanov himself.
American reports also stated in the recent period that the administration of US President Donald Trump was considering imposing sanctions on Trukhanov, and among the possible reasons for this was his possession of Russian citizenship, in addition to suspicions of corruption and links to criminal groups.
