Putin grants Russian citizenship to US boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr.
Vladimir Putin has signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to the American boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr. The decree has been published on the Kremlin’s website.
According to ABC, Jones met with Putin in Crimea in August and said he wanted a Russian passport, saying it would make his frequent business trips to Russia easier. He reportedly filed an official request for Russian citizenship the day after his meeting with Putin. He claimed he wanted to build “a bridge” between Russia and the United States.
In accordance with point ‘A’ in Article 89 of the constitution of the Russian Federation, I hereby order to honor the application for Russian citizenship filed by Roy Levesta Jones Jr., born January 16, 1969, in the United States of America.
- Roy Jones Jr. is one of the most famous boxing champions in the world. He holds numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America. He also raps.
- In 2013, Putin gave Russian citizenship to French actor Gerard Depardieu, who has staunchly defended Russian foreign policy. Also in 2013, Russia granted asylum to Edward Snowden, a former US government employee who leaked details of mass state surveillance and who is wanted by Washington.