Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revoked the citizenship of Odesa’s mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, due to allegations that he holds a Russian passport. Trukhanov, who has been mayor for 11 years, intends to challenge this decision in court, asserting he does not possess a Russian passport and maintains his role as mayor. Ukrainian law forbids officials from holding dual citizenship.
Zelenskiy announced plans to appoint a new military administration for Odesa, aiming to take more direct control over the city, particularly in addressing security concerns. He criticized Odesa’s local leaders for their inadequate response to recent flooding that caused fatalities. The SBU security agency claims to have evidence supporting the dual citizenship allegations, including a photocopied passport page reportedly belonging to Trukhanov.
In reaction, Trukhanov stated he would appeal the decision in Ukraine’s Supreme Court and possibly the European Court of Human Rights. Zelenskiy also revoked citizenship for two other individuals. Odesa has been targeted by Russian missile strikes since the full-scale invasion began.
Trukhanov’s opposition to the de-Russification movement has made him a controversial figure, with public protests calling for his removal. While some politicians, like Oleksiy Honcharenko, acknowledge Trukhanov’s issues, they express concern about the implications of Zelenskiy’s actions as potential repression against dissenting voices.
With information from Reuters
