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Russian oligarchs' citizenship bids face scrutiny in Portugal

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Roman Abramovich is seen at a signing ceremony in Istanbul (Turkey), 22 July 2022.

Portugal is currently analyzing citizenship applications of two Russian oligarchs – one of whom is subject to US sanctions. The government stated late Friday that the government is examining the law granting passports for descendants of Sephardic Jews.

Russian-Israeli diamond oligarch Lev Leviev, and Russian property developer God Nisanov, are two of the most prominent Russians to have applied under the legislation for citizenship.

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary Of State, stated last month that Nisanov was one of Europe's richest men and was a close associate with several Russian officials.

Portugal's Justice Ministry stated that the citizenship applications of the two men are "pending analysis" in a statement. It did not provide further details. Representatives of Leviev, Nisanov didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who was hit by sanctions, was granted citizenship in April 2021. This process prompted an ongoing investigation at a state agency that forced the government into tightening the rules.

Andrei Rappoport, a Russian businessman with a net worth estimated at $1.2 billion, got a Portuguese passport two years prior.

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Rappoport's representatives didn't immediately respond to a request to comment. However, the US Treasury Department identified Rappoport in 2018 as being close with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to a report in Portugal's Publico newspaper, all four oligarchs applied for Portuguese citizenship through Porto's Israeli Community. (CIP) was responsible for verifying their genealogies.

The CIP is being investigated by police for money laundering, fraud, and falsification.

CIP stated Friday that the allegations were false and that all applicants had met the legal requirements in order to get the certificate to prove their ancestry. The state is the final authority to approve.

Civic Front, an association that decries wrongdoing publically, has called for the suspension of all pending nationality proceedings based on the law to be completed until the investigation by the state agency.

It was stated this week in a letter to Justice Minister: "It is becoming increasingly evident that naturalization of Roman Abramovich does not represent an isolated case."

A spokeswoman for Abramovich stated that he was granted citizenship "according to the rules".

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