A young Russian man facing money laundering charges in the United Kingdom has been discovered holding a Maltese passport, raising fresh questions about the island nation’s now-defunct citizenship-by-investment scheme. Alexander Kuksov, aged 23, has been placed on Britain’s most wanted list by the National Crime Agency (NCA), which alleges he played a key role in a criminal network that moved massive sums of illicit cash across borders.
The case stems from a major NCA investigation, dubbed “Operation Destabilise,” which authorities have described as the largest money laundering bust in a decade. According to the agency, the network operated from Moscow and Dubai, shifting billions in cryptocurrency and physical currency for criminal enterprises, from ransomware attacks to street-level drug trades in the UK. Kuksov is accused of being part of this organization, though the charges have yet to be tested in court.
Records from Malta’s official gazette confirm that Kuksov received his passport in 2022, shortly before the country barred Russian applicants from its controversial golden passport program following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. The program, which sold citizenship to wealthy investors, was shut down entirely this year after a ruling by the European Union’s top court.
This is not the first time the Kuksov family has come under scrutiny. Alexander’s older brother, Semen, 25, lost his Maltese citizenship last October after being convicted in the UK for his involvement in the same money laundering scheme. Semen was sentenced to five years in prison for laundering over $15 million in criminal proceeds. The brothers’ father, Vladimir Anatolyevich Kuksov, also appears on the list of those granted Maltese citizenship in 2022.
Under Maltese law, passports can be revoked if a citizen is sentenced to a year or more in prison within seven years of receiving the document. However, the Community Malta Agency, which administered the golden passport program, has not commented on whether it will take action against Alexander following the charges. The Malta Police Force also declined to address questions about the UK case.
The whereabouts of Alexander Kuksov remain unknown, and his father declined to comment on the new allegations, previously stating that he and his adult son lead separate lives. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the security and oversight of citizenship-by-investment programs, which critics argue can be exploited by individuals involved in illicit activities.