Oleg Tinkoff, a well-known Russian billionaire and the founder of Tinkoff Bank, has renounced his citizenship in protest against Russia's war in Ukraine.
Tinkoff announced his decision in a post on Instagram (which he since reposted as the original was deleted), but the message was subsequently widely disseminated on social media.
"I have decided to throw out my Russian citizenship after Russia invaded Ukraine, and start[ed] killing innocents there," Tinkoff wrote. "I can’t be associated with Putin’s fascism regime."
He added that he is working with lawyers to revoke the Tinkoff brand from the bank, and that it must change its name. "I hate when my brand/name is associated with the bank that collaborates with killers and blood."
In his original post, he added that he hoped "more prominent Russian businessmen" would follow him, so it "weakens Putin's regime and his economy and put[s] him eventually to defeat."
Originally, Tinkoff's Instagram post was accompanied by a picture of an official document purporting to certify the annulment of his citizenship. Tinkoff said the fact the original post has since been deleted is "mysterious", and "probably" due to the workings of "Russian trolls."
The final straw
Tinkoff's latest statement is not the first time he has openly voiced his opposition to the war. In April, he wrote in another slanderous Instagram post published that didn't see a "single beneficiary of this insane war. Innocent people and soldiers are dying," adding that "90% of Russians are against this war."
Tinkoff's claim about Russians' alleged opposition to the war is, however, not supported by the available evidence. According to the Levada Centre, a respected Russian independent polling agency, Putin's approval ratings are currently at 79%, while 78% of Russians "personally support the actions of the Russian military forces in Ukraine."
After his April outburst, Tinkoff was forced by the Kremlin to sell his 35% stake in his Cyprus-based company, TCS Group. Tinkoff alleges that he was forced to sell his stake for just 3% of its real value.
Tinkoff, who also holds a Cypriot passport, is believed to be living in London, where he is subject to UK sanctions. He quit his position as CEO of Tinkoff Bank in 2020. The bank has since distanced itself from his strong opposition to the war.
Not the first, probably not the last
Tinkoff is just the latest in a string of ultra-rich Russian businessmen who have renounced their citizenship in protest against Russia's war.
Just hours before Tinkoff's own announcement, Nikolai Storonsky, the co-founder and CEO of financial technology company Revolut, similarly claimed that he is renouncing his citizenship. Storonsky had previously called the war "wrong and totally abhorrent."
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Other Russian businessmen who have renounced their citizenship since Russia's February invasion include Silicon Valley investor Yuri Milner, retail broker Timur Turlov, and financier Ruben Vardanyan.
