The British newspaper “The Guardian” apologized for publishing two articles regarding the purchase of the President of the Presidential Council, “Fayez Al-Sarraj,” the citizenship of Vanuatu in January 2020 while he was still in office.
The newspaper said that Al-Sarraj did not buy this nationality, as the two articles wrongly mentioned, and the newspaper confirmed that references to Al-Sarraj were removed from the article, and the headline was modified, according to what was stated in the text of the apology.
The Guardian newspaper reported that the former President of the Presidential Council, Fayez al-Sarraj, had purchased Vanuatu citizenship for himself and his family in January 2020, while he was still in office, and “the application was submitted in the name of his wife.”
According to the “Guardian” investigation, Al-Sarraj joins a list of those who acquired the “Vanuatu” nationality in the past months, most of whom are “persecuted.” Among them is the former governor of the Damascus countryside, Alaa Ibrahim, who was removed from his position by the regime and imposed a ban on his money, and Abdullah Khiti, the Syrian businessman. His companies are covered by US sanctions, an Italian mediator accused of blackmailing the Vatican, two South African brothers accused of fleeing with more than $3 billion worth of bitcoin, and others.
According to what was published by “The Guardian” at the time, Al-Sarraj’s potential status as a politically exposed person (a term given to politically prominent people who, by virtue of their position and influence, are considered more likely to be involved in bribery and corruption) means that he was likely to face obstacles or be prevented from applying for citizenship. Many countries offer citizenship-by-investment programmes, particularly in the Caribbean or the European Union.
It is noteworthy that the British newspaper “The Mirror” also apologized earlier, for publishing a news story in July 2021, in which it said that the former President of the Presidential Council and head of the Government of National Accord, “Fayez al-Sarraj,” was a minister during the Gaddafi era, and that he had bought the citizenship of the state of “Vanuatu” to distance himself. About that notorious past, according to her description.
The British newspaper said that it admits its mistake and will withdraw its allegations, renewing its apology to Al-Sarraj, according to the newspaper.
It is noteworthy that the British newspaper, Mirror, spoke in July 2021 that Al-Sarraj had purchased the citizenship of the state of Vanuatu for himself and his family in January 2020, while he was in office, and the application was “submitted in the name of his wife,” according to what the newspaper previously published.
Vanuatu is a small island in the Pacific Ocean, and since it adopted the citizenship granting program, it has turned into a focus of wide attention regarding passports granted to foreigners, which constitute the largest source of government revenue.
Source: The Guardian British newspaper + Libya Al-Ahrar channel
