The Romanian Citizenship Fraud Network: How Thousands of Russians, Ukrainians and Moldovans Obtained Fake EU Identities
A major scandal is shaking Romanian institutions after investigative reports revealed the existence of a sophisticated criminal network that secured fake Romanian citizenship for thousands of applicants from Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova. By exploiting loopholes in Romania’s civil registry system and using corrupt insiders, the group turned individuals with no ties to Romania into fully fledged EU citizens.
In several court cases recently finalized, Romanian local authorities are now suing to annul documents they themselves had previously validated. Judges explicitly stated that the foreign certificates used to obtain Romanian citizenship were never issued by Romanian authorities.
High-profile cases: Russian oligarchs with Romanian IDs
One of the most striking cases is that of Vyacheslav Solomin, a Russian oligarch with leadership roles in massive energy and mining corporations such as Sibur Holding, Inter RAO UES, EuroSibEnergo, and Rusal. Shockingly, he obtained a Romanian identity card in the town of Huși, despite:
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not speaking Romanian,
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never setting foot in Romania,
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having no Romanian ancestry,
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and never taking the citizenship oath.
According to sources, the Bucharest Sector 6 Civil Registry Office has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate his identity documents.
Solomin is only one of thousands who allegedly obtained EU citizenship through fraudulent means.
How did the network work?
Prosecutors believe the scheme began around 2016, when the first falsified Romanian documents appeared. The mechanism was elaborate:
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Applicants from Russia, Ukraine, or Moldova approached intermediaries offering “Romanian citizenship services.”
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Forged birth certificates, citizenship certificates, or civil-status documents were produced in their names.
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Complicit civil registry employees in Romania transcribed these fake documents into official registries without proper verification.
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Once transcribed, the individuals legally received Romanian ID cards and passports, gaining full EU mobility.
Most beneficiaries had never set foot in Romania.
How many obtained citizenship illegally?
Although the exact number is unknown, investigators estimate thousands. The Sector 6 Court alone has over 130 ongoing cases seeking to annul fraudulent documents.
Beneficiaries identified so far include:
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businessmen involved in corruption scandals
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individuals on international sanctions lists
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Russian intelligence-linked personnel
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members of Vladimir Putin’s extended network
One example is Kirill Seleznev, a former Gazprom official under international sanctions.
Involvement of Romanian officials
Evidence suggests that several Romanian public servants facilitated the scheme by:
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failing to verify document authenticity,
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accepting documents not recorded in official national registries,
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or possibly receiving bribes.
The General Prosecutor’s Office currently manages multiple criminal investigations, which included searches last week in Bucharest and other cities.
Security implications for the EU
Romanian citizenship grants:
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full EU freedom of movement,
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access to European banking,
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legal residency rights across the EU,
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protection from EU consular services.
Granting such privileges to individuals with criminal backgrounds or ties to unfriendly foreign governments is considered a major threat to European security.
Experts warn that some beneficiaries may have used their Romanian identities to bypass sanctions, move money into EU banks, or travel freely throughout NATO territory.
What’s next?
Romanian authorities are expected to:
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cancel hundreds of fraudulent IDs,
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revoke illegally obtained citizenships,
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prosecute both intermediaries and complicit civil servants,
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and collaborate with EU agencies to track how many beneficiaries are currently within EU borders.
The scandal has triggered calls for a full audit of Romania’s civil registry and naturalization procedures.
