by Linda Straker
- In February 2022, Firer refused entry into Grenada; diplomatic passport confiscated
- Grenada stopped accepting applications from Russia and Belarus on 1 April 2023
- Currently, 59 international CBI programme marketing agents
Oleg Firer, Grenada’s former Ambassador to the Russian Federation, is no longer on the list of international marketing agents licenced to conduct business on behalf of the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.
“The Grenada Citizenship by Investment Committee advises that Oleg Firer is not a licenced Marketing Agent, nor a registered sub-agent of the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme,” said a notice on the updated website of the CBI programme.
“He is therefore not authorised to market, promote or disseminate information on the programme, nor act on behalf of, or engage with current or potential applicants, or their authorised representatives,” said the 28 March notice.
According to the CBI website, currently, there are 59 international marketing agents for the CBI programme. It is not known when he became a marketing agent.
However, on 6 April 2017, Firer presented copies of his credentials to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation H E Sergey Ryabkov, and became the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Grenada to the Russian Federation. On 3 October 2017, Firer presented his credentials to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
On 22 February 2022, he was refused entry into Grenada and had his diplomatic passport confiscated by Immigration authorities. His lawyer Cajeton Hood said that no reason was given to him by immigration officials.
Grenada changed government on 23 June 2022 and immediately, the new Government led by lawyer Dickon Mitchell recalled all diplomats appointed by the former New National Party Dr Keith Mitchell administration.
As of 1 April 2023, the country stopped accepting applications to the programme from Russia and Belarus. These 2 countries join North Korea, Iran, and Palestine as states worldwide banned from participating in Grenada’s CBI programme.
Grenada agreed to stop accepting the application as part of its decision to comply with a request from the US following the 25 February 2023 historic US-Caribbean Roundtable on Citizenship by Investment held in St Kitts and Nevis.
At that meeting, the participating countries approved 6 principles for going forward, which include suspending applications from Russia and Belarus to the CBI programme as well as not to process applications from individuals whose applications have been denied in another CBI jurisdiction by proactively sharing information on denials.
Hi Sandy, what is your reasoning for such drastic measures may I ask, I understand that the program may have its flaws, however there is no such need to end it. This program may not benefit you directly or indirectly, but there are many individuals who need the employment. May I ask this question, how many jobs have you created for the citizens of Grenada, and by your remarks I would assume that you are a Grenadian, if so let us continue to uplift the growth of our nation by being positive.
Why the hell are there people SELLING Grenada citizenship like a cheap dollar store item in the first place? You try to convince us that this is s good thing because it brings in money. BUT you are NOT recognizing the consequences of overrunning Grenada with people who don’t even want to live there
or contribute to the island as a whole.
Go look at your CHINESE marketing where the selling point is that buying a Grenadian passport gets a Chinese person into the USA to live which is their final goal in buying GRENADIAN citizenship. This is like whoring out the voluntary and not caring about the impact it has on REAL GRENADIANS.
Stop this stupid practice.
This program must be canceled. All passports revoked.