According to a decree by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov has been stripped of Ukrainian citizenship due to his Russian passport. This move follows years of criticism against Trukhanov for his pro-Russian rhetoric, criminal cases related to city property embezzlement, and the creation of a criminal organization.
The author, who lived in Odesa for eight years, notes he had to move to Kyiv after several attacks he associates with Trukhanov. Over the years, Trukhanov built a pro-Russian network and initially enjoyed support from certain central authorities. He currently faces two anti-corruption cases: misappropriation of city funds and organizing a criminal group.
Stripping citizenship means Trukhanov can no longer serve as mayor. Temporarily, the city will be managed either by the city council secretary or a newly appointed head of the civil-military administration. There is growing risk that as a Russian citizen, Trukhanov could evade investigation and trial, giving grounds for his detention.
The criminal proceedings against Trukhanov continue in court, and the author urges stricter preventive measures. Many see this event as a step toward justice, while the author hopes Trukhanov will be held accountable under the law.
