Georgian FM gives up his Russian citizenship

Georgian Foreign Minister has renounced his Russian citizenship, Russian state-run media reported. According to reports, before the session of Georgia’s government Wednesday Grigol Vashadze announced renouncing of his Russian citizenship. The papers quote him saying about a formal application made and sent to Russian President “with Russian passport in supporting documents.”

“The way to renounce Russian citizenship is very complicated. Russia's Constitution does not allow denying citizenship, so I decided to ease this matter. I signed giving up nationality declaration and sent all supporting documents to Moscow including passport,” he said.

Note that Georgian FM announced renounce of Russian citizenship after Russian deputies voiced claims to deny his citizenship. In particular, Deputy of Russian State Duma, Semen Bagdasarov, proposed to deny Russian citizenship to Grigol Vashadze saying “it is nonsense when the closest ally of Georgian President travels around Russia with Russian passport”.

Press-office of Georgian Foreign Minister said Grigol Vashadze “didn’t upset and offend”, “it was not all in a sudden”. “He is pleased to join list with names of Rostropovich, Solzhenitsyn, and Lyubimov.”