The man who wanted to be mayor of Jerusalem a few months ago is now hoping to renounce his Israeli citizenship and return to being a full-fledged Russian citizen. Arcadi Gaydamak has applied to the Russian government to restore his citizenship, according to his attorney, who told IDF Army Radio on Thursday that the Russian-Israeli billionaire would give up his Israeli citizenship if his request is granted. Unlike the United States and a number of other Western nations, Russia does not have a dual citizenship agreement with Israel. Gaydamak gave up his Russian citizenship in the 1970’s when he made aliyah to Israel. The business tycoon is currently trying to escape a French lawsuit in connection with the sale of some $791 million worth of Russian weapons to Angola from 1993 to 2000, in violation of French laws. Because Russia and France have no mutual legal agreement, Gaydamak will be safe from French justice – to be decided on March 4 -- if he becomes a Russian citizen. Gaydamak, who ran against Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and two other candidates in the most recent municipal elections, funded the erection of huge tent cities for residents of the north when they were fleeing the 2006 Second Lebanon War, and for respite breaks for rocket-battered residents of Sderot and surrounds in the south. He currently faces charges of arms trafficking, along with French businessman Pierre Falcone. A number of top French officials, including Jean-Christophe Mitterrande, have also been named in the case as having taken bribes in exchange for political or commercial favors on behalf of Falcone’s company.
