Longtime Odessa mayor Henady Trukhanov announced a lawsuit on Wednesday to regain his Ukrainian citizenship, which was stripped from him due to intelligence claims that documents had emerged proving he had a Russian passport.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement on Tuesday that Trukhanov's citizenship was stripped after multiple documents emerged proving he was a Russian citizen. Dual citizenship is prohibited under Ukrainian law.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that he had signed a decree revoking Trukhanov's citizenship, stating that he intended to place the strategic port city of Odessa under military rule.
"I have not changed my mind about going to court. I did not have and do not have Russian citizenship. I have all the relevant documents, so we will fight," Trukhanov said on Wednesday.
"Today, I remain the mayor of the city... Until the deputies adopt this information in session, I will remain the mayor and fulfill my duties," he added.
The SBU's latest findings overturned an earlier investigation it conducted in 2016, which stated that Trukhanov's Russian citizenship could not be proven.
The move to strip Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship followed Zelensky's meeting with security agency officials, during which he discussed dealing with alleged Russian influence networks in administrative positions.
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