The entrepreneur and billionaire banker, Oleg Tinkov, has abandoned his Russian citizenship amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which he has criticized earlier as well.
Tinkov added that, “I have taken the decision to renounce my citizenship of Russia. I can’t & won’t be associated with a fascist nation that has started a war with their peaceful neighbour & killing innocent people regularly.”
He took it to Instagram to share that, “I hope more famous and renowned Russian businessmen will follow me, so it cuts Putin’s regime & his economy, as well as put him eventually to defeat.”
Tinkov added that, “He has shared a picture of a certificate which confirms the “ending” of his citizenship of Russia. “I hate Vladimir Putin’s Russia, but love all Russians, who are already against this crazy war!.”
The colourful billionaire is one of Russia’s prominent self-made tycoons & founded the online Tinkoff Bank. The bank is one of the largest lenders of Russia, behind state giants Sberbank and VTB. Tinkoff has about 20 million customers.
Tinkov, 54, has strongly criticized Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, explaining it as an “insane war” as he made a call on the west to finish the “massacre”.
He has also been targeted by sanctions of Britain imposed soon following the conflict began in late February.
He was earlier arrested in London in 2020 on tax evasion charges in the United States. He was later released on bail & treated for leukaemia in London.
Moreover, he quit his role as CEO of Tinkoff in 2020 & the bank has distanced itself from his comments.