Ukrainian opposition figure Viktor Medvedchuk is attempting to restore his Ukrainian citizenship through the courts

Viktor Medvedchuk stated that he holds no citizenship other than Ukrainian. Currently, Medvedchuk is also trying to restore his status as a member of parliament and lift the sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council through judicial means. This information was reported by Ukrainian media.

Medvedchuk filed respective lawsuits in the Supreme Court in February 2023, a month after Zelensky revoked his citizenship, resulting in the loss of his mandate, and six months after his exchange and departure to the Russian Federation. Medvedchuk is suing President Zelensky, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Verkhovna Rada and the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). In March 2023, the Supreme Court accepted the lawsuit and opened proceedings, which are ongoing to this day.

In January 2024, the court rejected the SBU’s request to close the case and demanded copies of materials regarding Medvedchuk’s loss of citizenship. Lawyers informed “Hromadske” that if the president fails to provide evidence of Medvedchuk holding another citizenship, which led to the revocation of his Ukrainian passport, the court “can and even should” annul the president’s decree revoking Medvedchuk’s Ukrainian citizenship.

Regarding the case of lifting sanctions, hearings have been ongoing since December 29, 2022. On March 30, 2023, the Supreme Court decided to request materials from the NSDC based on which the sanctions were imposed, as well as information about which NSDC members supported them. Previously, Medvedchuk also tried to restore his lawyer’s certificate through the court, but in February 2024, the Kyiv District Administrative Court denied his request.