Zelensky decides to revoke the Ukrainian citizenship of four pro-Moscow members of the Ukrainian Parliament

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced, on Tuesday, the revocation of the citizenship of four pro-Russian members of Parliament, who are suspected of residing in Russia and having obtained citizenship there.

“If the people’s deputies choose to serve not the people of Ukraine, but the murderers who came to Ukraine, then our actions will be proportionate,” Zelensky said in his daily video address.

The Ukrainian president added that the measure was taken on the basis of materials prepared by the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Migration Service of Ukraine, and in accordance with the Constitution.

The four individuals are Andrei Leonidovich Derkach, Taras Romanovich Kozak, Rinat Ravilovich Kuzmin and Viktor Volodymyrovich Medvedchuk.

Medvedchuk arrived in Russia in September as part of a prisoner exchange.

It is also believed that Derkach, Kozak and Kuzmin are in the neighboring country and the four are suspected of having Russian citizenship.

The four lawmakers represent the pro-Russian Ukrainian opposition party Opposition Platform – for Life, which was banned after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

Although Article 25 of the Ukrainian Constitution prohibits revoking Ukrainian citizenship, Ukrainian law doesn’t provide for dual citizenship, which means that anyone with another citizenship may lose Ukrainian citizenship.

According to the constitution, loss of nationality can serve as grounds for revoking membership in parliament.

According to unconfirmed media reports, Zelensky also revoked the citizenship of 13 high-ranking clergymen from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has long been associated with Moscow, at the end of last year.