ISTANBUL

Malta suspended applications from nationals of Russia and Belarus amid the Ukraine-Russia war.

Due to the Russian war on Ukraine, “the existent due diligence checks cannot be carried out effectively in the current scenario,” according to the Mediterranean island.

Malta “suspended, until further notice, the processing of applications for the above-mentioned statuses from nationals of the Russian Federation and Belarus,” it said in a statement from Malta’s Parliamentary Secretariat for Citizenship and Communities.

“It is to be noted that following thorough checks, no beneficiaries of any status, related to the grant of citizenship or residence, are on the EU Sanctions List,” it added. “Similarly, no applications from individuals on the EU Sanctions List are currently in process.”

So-called “golden passports” allow non-EU nationals to get citizenship from a EU country if they invest a certain amount of money in the state.

Bulgaria, Malta and the Greek Cypriot administration offer golden passport schemes, while 12 other EU countries have golden visa schemes.

Earlier Wednesday, EU ambassadors put sanctions on Belarusian officials and military leaders “involved in the Russian aggression against Ukraine,” according to the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began Feb. 24, has met international outrage with the EU, US and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.