Former Odesa Mayor Hennadii Truhanov has stated that the Supreme Court of Ukraine has been unable to obtain proper and duly certified documents from state authorities regarding the termination of his Ukrainian citizenship for over a year.
Details of the Court Proceedings
Writing on his Telegram channel, Hennadii Truhanov reported that the Supreme Court recently held its fourth hearing on the matter. Throughout a year of proceedings, neither the plaintiff, his lawyers, nor the judicial panel have received a clear explanation from the President's Office, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), or the Migration Service regarding the specific grounds for terminating his citizenship. State representatives reportedly provided only uncertified photocopies of documents to the court.
According to the former mayor, these copies fail to meet procedural requirements as they were never officially checked or certified. During the hearings, Supreme Court judges repeatedly requested originals or properly certified duplicates bearing the signatures of responsible officials, but agency representatives were unable to provide comprehensive information.
Background and Positions of the Parties
The conflict surrounding the citizenship issue erupted after the President of Ukraine signed a decree in October 2025 terminating the Ukrainian citizenship of the then-mayor of Odesa. The decision was based on materials provided by the SSU and recommendations from the Presidential Commission on Citizenship. According to the security service, the pretext was Truhanov's alleged possession of a valid Russian foreign passport and tax ID number.
In turn, the former Odesa mayor consistently denies holding Russian citizenship. He labels the documents previously publicized by the security service as falsifications and intends to challenge the presidential decree through the courts. The Supreme Court proceedings continue amid mutual legal disputes regarding the legality and evidentiary base of the measures taken.
Significance of the Court Process
The proceedings in the Supreme Court of Ukraine demonstrate strict procedural requirements for stripping high-ranking officials of citizenship. The lack of properly formalized evidence could create a precedent for revising similar state decisions. The outcome of this case will affect both the legal practice of applying citizenship decrees and the political status of Truhanov himself.
