Russian agent based in Switzerland markets “EU citizenship” via tacky email newsletter. In the picture: Maltese passports and a view of Valletta.
This man is a Russian real estate agent who lives in Switzerland. He operates an email newsletter called ‘Leading Properties of the World’ (not to be confused with the reputable Leading Hotels of the World).
Informed sources tell me that Sergey Sander is promoting this for Henley & Partners, and that he is hoping to acquire Maltese passports for some of his clients, of unspecified nationality, who need a residence permit in Switzerland but can’t get one without an EU passport.
You will notice that he is not advertising investment in Malta or even Maltese citizenship in itself, but rather “European citizenship” – in other words, buy an EU passport and move into the rather more glamorous parts of Europe, but if you really want to live in Malta, it’s safe and taxes are OK.
This is the text he’s using:
On the 1st November Malta has offered to the successful businessmen and their families the most attractive program in the world for getting a citizenship via the investment.
The sum of the investment into the National Development Fund constitutes EUR 650,000 for the main applicant. The substantial advantage of the program is the possibility to get a citizenship for a spouse, children under 25 and parents over the age of 55. The consideration period of applications is 3 and more months.
The advantages of the Maltese citizenship are obvious. Due to the fact that Malta is the full right member of the European Union and is a member of the Schengen agreement, the citizens of Malta may live and do business in all the countries of the EU, including Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway. The citizens of Malta may visit 163 countries of the world without visas. That fact puts the Maltese pass among the most desirable passports in the world.
Being one of the most comfortable and safe countries in the world to live, Malta will provide you with the possibility to optimize taxes, personal safety and an alternative place to live. Reach us to get detailed information and free consultation on any questions regarding receiving the citizenship of Malta.
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http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-11-12/news/simon-busuttils-best-delivery-to-date-joe-grima-3165028352/
Is it not misleading to call the payment of €650,000 an “investment”? Investment implies that the funds remain, to some extent, belonging to the investor and that there is some financial return. This is purely payment for a purchase.
Yes.
It IS an investment..the return is the actual citizenship.
Exactly.
For the person who obtains the passport it is an investment, but not for Malta’s economy.
In any case, these people do not care about the true meaning of words? They use words that sell.
This is what Joseph Muscat has unleashed, and Malta’s reputation will suffer. He will not be able to control or stop it.
Issa ahjar! Anyone marketing or promoting the scheme from Malta exposes himself to a fine of €20,000 but outside Malta’s jurisdiction, you can do what you like.
That was the intention.
No Maltese can be allowed anywhere near this scheme.
Yes this is a total cock up of values. Maltese cannot promote this wonderful “investment talent scheme” without breaking the law, but any foreign crack user can with impunity and take his cut along with Henley and their silent partners.
Henley, Muscat nor his backers feel any shame. Nothing has a value. Only money counts. As I heard in the village recently – “qishom il-qahba u r-ruffjan daqskemm jaqblu”. How true the analogy in this case.
No, no Tania. Anyone can market Maltese passports and can avoid paying the €20,000 fine by going through Henley and Partners who will pay part commission to the outside agent and charge it back to Mallia. That is one reason why all the secrecy and lack of tying payments to names, and announcing ‘discounted rates’ so one cannot arrive at a mathematical calculation and determine how many were granted citizenship and how much was paid. Which brings us back to the €500,000 Mallia cannot (or refuse) to explain.
Malta may be doing the rest of Europe a favour actually. Malta gives entry to wealthy individuals who will then start businesses and invest their money elsewhere.
It is to avoid this that similar schemes normally involve much higher commitment with the country that grants access.
Very good observation, we are the front door carpet, wipe the mud on your dirty Wellingtons, then proceed to the living room and get down to real business
“Being one of the most comfortable and safe countries in the world to live, Malta…”
Not anymore. Not after this scam.
‘Scum’ more than ‘Scam.’
“The advantages of the Maltese citizenship are obvious. Due to the fact that Malta is the full right member of the European Union and is a member of the Schengen agreement, the citizens of Malta may live and do business in all the countries of the EU, including Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway. The citizens of Malta may visit 163 countries of the world without visas. That fact puts the Maltese pass among the most desirable passports in the world.”
I can’t believe someone is saying that on behalf of the Labour government led by prime minister Joseph Muscat – he who wanted us out of the EU at all costs.
Those buyers must beware. There must be some deception.
He is making another assumption that we will still be part of the Schengen agreement. Who is to say that Malta will no longer form part of the Schengen agreement. For all we know the EU may ask for Malta to be removed from Schengen.
I know it would cost a packet, but can the opposition use the foreign media to declare that a Nationalist government would revoke the Maltese citizenship to these applicants.
Perhaps a fund raising activity could be raised for this sole purpose.
I agree with you 101%
It needn’t cost much. The revocation would be of the scheme itself and of individual cases.
Does the European Union have any say on this scam?
Throught Malta’s history our forefathers fought off all those who wanted to conquer our beloved island,and now this traitor is selling it to the highest bidder.
There is no higher bidder, there is a low highest price and discounts
Norman Lowell and Co.’s silence about this issue has proved the fact that their issue was always the black colour of the skin.
Alyiev – Now a promising prospect for Maltese citizenship. His name will remain secret.
Simon Busuttil mentioned the possibility that even Mintoff would be against this scheme. Ipso facto you get people like Joseph Grima on your side.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/magazinedetails/magazine/environment/Refusing-Mistra-development-would-have-cost-government-compensation-suit-20131112
I lost count of the number of lies.
What’s absolutely intolerable is how Farrugia’s perverting the spirit of the reform.
An applicant cannot just squeeze his way into an outline permit and expect compensation if the full development permit doesn’t follow their wildest wishes.
That’s why it was termed outline. Conditions at that stage in Mepa’s remit, NOT, as most would have it, the applicant’s.
It was a skill required of architects to correspond.
The reform removed the bickering between outline and full stage, laying down clear criteria if an application has to be considered in the first place. It basically throttled the plausibility of abuse to a minimum removing the space for degeneration mentioned above.
The way he spoke betrays Musumeci’s forma mentis. Applicants will be ‘clients’.
Not all is lost however, there being a major issue with that project, beyond abstract argument, its neighbours will have the value of their property annihilated.
Which causes the state to look at the overall picture, not, as Farrugia unwittingly exposed, individual interests.
If this goes through, nowhere’s safe.
Pity Astrid didn’t get engaged to declare war yet. If she can walk into Valletta, surely she can march up Xemxija.
Maltatoday should be literally torn to shreds by the PN for choosing to ignore the reform, misreporting and leaving out details who the applicants really are.
All they’re doing is providing an alibi for Labour’s plunder.
Nothing about talent in this advert.
Can someone please explain this information to me?
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/data/MaltaToday-survey-Budget-Citizenship-20131111#data
More PL voters agree with the current citizenship scheme than they do with giving citizenship to children of foreigners, who have been brought up and educated here.
When I read that I had to look twice. How exactly are these anonymous individuals more deserving of citizenship than the children of foreigners who have actually lived and studied in Malta, whose parents have paid taxes to Malta, and who have friends in Malta?
Oh that’s right, there are 650 000 reasons why those anonymous individuals are better.
And let’s not forget that those foreigners also include people who came over in a broken boat running for their lives.
That seems to be the Labour mindset. If you give us money we will do whatever you say, but to hell with humanitarian aid. Keep them in Libya.
What trash.
The following article throws more light on why small countries may need to extend their low cost citizenship and what type of people may be interested in subscribing to such a scheme. I sincerely hope that Malta would not attract any of these phantoms to share our priviledges. Includes an eye opener on the risk of such a programme to attract even terrorists to our virtual shores.
http://news.yahoo.com/struggling-caribbean-islands-selling-citizenship-170008926.html
I still await reaction from the European Union of whether this system of ultimately selling a European “travelling ticket” is acceptable. We are heading towards very interesting times indeed.
I am a student, and frequently have discussions over the internet with fellow European students who I’ve made friends with at a Euroscola session in Strasbourg. I was surprised at how much they keep themselves updated on European news, and even more when they asked me if it was true that Malta was taking a stand on irregular immigration, yet is opening the sale of its citizenship to the same persons.
I was speechless. I couldn’t imagine fellow Maltese students bring this up, like those in ‘I’M IN’ T-Shirts.
Partly my fault, I could have seen it coming. I was used to boasting about how proud I am to be Maltese, being paid to go to university, that we have our unique language and crystal clear seas and people swim all year round and nearly everyone is a patriot. Yeah, right.
And after just eight months, saying you are Maltese has become a burden, and brings a little redness to your face. I can’t imagine myself five years from now. Only if Maltese students weren’t as easily fooled as these friends.
The only consolation that one can have about this sale of passports is that Labour now will not be willing to take Malta out of the EU.
When Labour got elected last March, and began saying things against the EU re irregular migrants etc. a lot of us were afraid that this might be a prelude for a propaganda blitz against the EU, so that the Labour followers will start clamouring to leave the union.
But now, with the sale of passports, Labour would not take Malta out of the EU as it would not want to fall foul of whoever purchased these passports.
http://amandala.com.bz/news/desperate-sell-birthright-passports/
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131112/local/attorney-generals-advice-about-withdrawal-of-citizenship-pubished.494453#.UoKW1Sh1T5F
I find it odd that a person who does not want to show his name in the list of Malta’s citizens would fight tooth and nail in the Maltese constitutional court to keep his citizenship which he bought to travel and settle without any hindrance in the European Union.
Thanks to Joseph Muscat, Malta has become like a Freemason lodge where membership is kept secret and away from public scrutiny.
“In all the countries of the EU, including Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway”
Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway are not members of the EU
Do you agree with selling Malta’s citizenship?
5 quick questions: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8BFJVY9
Please complete and circulate.
It is rumoured that on the credntials of last night’s vote in Parliament our Prime Minister has applied in court to have his surname slightly altered from Muscat to Faustuscat.