Russia: VKontakte founder reportedly obtains citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 28 April 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: VKontakte founder reportedly obtains citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis, 28 April 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53a137c711.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 28, 2014
Pavel Durov announced on April 22 that he had left Russia after he was forced to sell his ownership shares in VKontakte.
The founder and ousted CEO of top Russian social-networking site VKontakte has reportedly received citizenship in the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
An article in the "Izvestia" daily newspaper on April 28, widely cited by media in Russia, says that Pavel Durov, who recently left Russia, has become a citizen of the island country in the West Indies through its Citizenship-by-Investment program.
It is not clear when exactly Durov obtained his citizenship of the smallest state in the Americas.
"Izvestia" quoted an unnamed source close to VKontakte shareholders as saying that Durov had invested $250,000 into the St. Kitts and Nevis economy before becoming a national.
Durov's current whereabouts is unknown.
He told leading technology news website TechCrunch last week that he did not plan to return to Russia as, "unfortunately, the country is incompatible with Internet business at the moment."
Based on reporting by "Izvestia"
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
