Professor Dimitry Kochenov acted as an advisor in a scheme that allowed people to buy EU citizenship from Malta or Cyprus
A Groningen professor who was involved as an advisor in a scheme that let people buy an EU passport from Malta for 900,000 euros, has submitted his resignation to the University of Groningen. Profesor Dimitry Kochenov helped wealthy people use a loophole in EU law to access the passports, reports the university paper the Ukrant.
Kochenov was found out by the Dutch public broadcaster the NOS, but before the University of Groningen was able to take measures against the professor, he resigned himself. Kochenov, who has both Dutch and Russian citizenship, allegedly said that he could get a better job elsewhere.
Formally, Professor Kochenov can not be charged with anything and he acted within the letter of the law. However, he did fail to report his extracurricular activities to the University.
Among the activities not discussed include his chairmanship of the Investment Migration Council, an organization whose goal is to promote the trade in passports and residence permits, and most of his work for Malta.
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