Pundit Mulls Russian Citizenship After Kiev Launches 'Separatist' Case

Ukrainian publicist and political consultant Anatoly Wasserman is deliberating Russian citizenship having learned of a criminal case launched against him in Ukraine, the public figure said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Ukrainian Security Service press secretary confirmed a criminal investigation, previously announced by Ukrainian lawmaker Alexey Goncharenko, into Wasserman’s alleged remarks infringing on Ukraine's sovereignty.

"In view of this criminal case, I should seriously consider getting Russian citizenship," Wasserman told the Russian News Service.

Wasserman, who is widely known as an intellectual and winner of numerous game shows, was born in the Ukrainian region of Odessa in 1952.

"We are investigating Wasserman’s statements, where he openly called for the infringement of our state’s territorial integrity," Elena Gitlyanskaya told local television.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, the pundit said the "separatism" case officially recognizes his service to the peoples of Russia and Ukraine.

"I was against Ukrainian separatism ever since it entered into general public discussion. The coups in 2004 and 2014 proved that Ukrainian separatism is harmful," he said.

The criminal case against him follows Ukraine’s newest sanctions list imposing year-long travel bans and asset freezes on 388 individuals and up to 100 legal entities in Russia, as well as Britain and Germany among other countries.