'Russia MP quits over charge he is Israeli citizen'

Russian law does not recognize dual citizenship; Vitaly Malkin denies having foreign passport, Russian media reports.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin with Vitaly Malkin 3 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin with Vitaly Malkin 3
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Russian senator Vitaly Malkin resigned on Monday following allegations that he has Israeli citizenship and undeclared foreign real estate, Russian news site RiaNovosti reported on Tuesday.
Opposition blogger Alexei Navalny released documents earlier this month that allegedly show that Malkin secretly holds an Israeli passport.
Russian law does not recognize dual citizenship nor does it permit foreigners to hold state offices.
Malkin denied he has a foreign citizenship, calling the allegations a "media smear campaign" and saying it might be connected to this trip to the US last year.
“This dirty campaign in the mass media was most likely paid for by someone. I will get to the bottom of the matter,” Malkin was quoted as saying by RiaNovosti.
Russian senators had not yet confirmed nor denied the report.