Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, one of the tycoons who in recent months had spoken out against Russian military actions in Ukraine, has gone a step further and has renounced Russian citizenship.
Tinkov, the founder and former owner of the Tinkoff bank, announced his decision on social media on Monday. On Instagram he posted a certificate in English officializing his renunciation of the passport. The document was dated September 26. "I am ashamed to have this passport," Tinkov wrote.
He assured that he no longer wants to be associated with Russia, and urged other businessmen to follow his example with the aim of "weakening the Putin regime and its economy."
"I have made the decision to renounce Russian citizenship. I cannot and do not want to be associated with a fascist country that started a war with its peaceful neighbor and murders innocent people on a daily basis," he also wrote on his Telegram account.
However, he declared his love for all Russians who oppose the Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
He also criticized those he called "pseudo-patriots" and stated: "I am a patriot of Russia more than you. Because you speak and I have done and am doing. I am a hero of Russia."
Tinkov has repeatedly opposed the conflict in Ukraine. On February 28, four days after the start of hostilities, he wrote on social media that "States should spend money on treating people, on research for victory over cancer, not on war."
Oleg Tinkov, 54 years old and with a fortune of 9,400 million dollars, according to Forbes, suffers from leukemia.
In April he again spoke openly against the Kremlin's plans. He called the conflict "absurd" and called on the West to leave Putin a way out that would end the "massacre."
"90% of Russians are AGAINST this war," he wrote on Instagram on April 19. According to him, there are "NO beneficiaries of this senseless war" where "innocent people and soldiers die."
"Of course there are idiots who draw the 'Z', but in any country there are 10% idiots," he added, referring to the letter that became a symbol of Russian patriotism in support of the Russian military offensive.
"After waking up with a hangover, the generals realized that they had a shitty army," Tinkov said in his message. "And how can the military be any good if everything else in the country is crap, and riddled with nepotism and subservience."
After this, the billionaire, who in recent years has lived outside Russia, sold 35% of the share capital he had in the Tinkoff bank to the Interros company, owned by the oligarch Vladimir Potanin.
Tinkov later told The New York Times that it was a "desperate" and "forced" sale staged by the Kremlin. He claimed that he dumped his shares for 3% of what he believed they were worth.
In May he came to say goodbye to Russia. "Ukraine will win because good always wins over evil," she said.
