<p>European Union member Malta says it is suspending the processing of applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals for its so-called “golden passport” program in the wake of EU sanctions on Russia.</p>.<p>The much-criticised program, which grants citizenship or official residence in Malta, was begun as a lucrative source of income for the tiny island nation in 2014.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-ukraine-crisis-war-live-news-updates-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-volodymyr-zelenskyy-us-donbass-kyiv-kharkiv-1086839.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here</strong></a></p>.<p>A government statement on Wednesday also noted that nobody who gained citizenship that way has been found to be on the list of sanctioned individuals.</p>.<p>It said sanctions now make it impossible to perform due diligence on applicants from Russia and Belarus.</p>.<p>Under the program, Maltese passports can be obtained with 600,000 euros ($660,000) and three years of residency or 750,000 euros and 12 months of residency, plus a 700,000-euro purchase of property. But investigative reporting in recent years found that the residency requirement wasn't always fully enforced.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>European Union member Malta says it is suspending the processing of applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals for its so-called “golden passport” program in the wake of EU sanctions on Russia.</p>.<p>The much-criticised program, which grants citizenship or official residence in Malta, was begun as a lucrative source of income for the tiny island nation in 2014.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/russia-ukraine-crisis-war-live-news-updates-vladimir-putin-joe-biden-volodymyr-zelenskyy-us-donbass-kyiv-kharkiv-1086839.html" target="_blank"><strong>Follow live Ukraine-Russia crisis updates here</strong></a></p>.<p>A government statement on Wednesday also noted that nobody who gained citizenship that way has been found to be on the list of sanctioned individuals.</p>.<p>It said sanctions now make it impossible to perform due diligence on applicants from Russia and Belarus.</p>.<p>Under the program, Maltese passports can be obtained with 600,000 euros ($660,000) and three years of residency or 750,000 euros and 12 months of residency, plus a 700,000-euro purchase of property. But investigative reporting in recent years found that the residency requirement wasn't always fully enforced.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>