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Israeli interior ministry to answer Polonsky’s citizenship request in one to 12 months

Russian businessman Sergei Polonsky falls completely within the purview of the Law of Return

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

TEL AVIV, July 18 (Itar-Tass) - Russian notorious businessman Sergei Polonsky, who has applied for Israel’s citizenship, will have to wait for an answer from one month to one year, his lawyer, Diana Tatosova, told a news conference here on Thursday.

“Documents for the Israeli citizenship were filed with the relevant agency of the Israeli interior ministry on July 10, in Polonsky’s presence,” she said. “But this agency did say when the decision is to be made. It might take from 30-45 days to six-twelve months. In this case, we are speaking not about a petty citizen of the former Soviet Union, but about a public personality. Naturally, the whole thing is complicated by the fact that he is facing two criminal cases - in Cambodia and in Russia, so Israel’s interior ministry will need time to check information and take a decision.”

“Obviously, even if it is not an obstacle, it will at least protract the decision,” she noted. “At the same time, I would like to stress that Polonsky falls completely within the purview of the Law of Return (giving Jews the right of return and the right to live in Israel and to gain citizenship) and we hope for a positive outcome.”

On June 14, the Russian interior ministry’s investigation department brought absentia charges against the CEO of the Potok8 company (former Mirax Group), Sergei Polonsky, of fraud during the construction of the Kutuzovskaya Mile housing complex. More than 80 people were recognized as the injured party.

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