Repubblika says it never ‘knowingly’ accepted donations from passport buyers

Updated at 5pm with Moviment Graffitti reaction

Civil society NGO Repubblika have insisted they never “knowingly” accepted donations from passport buyers.

“Repubblika have never accepted donations from someone we know has bought Maltese citizenship,” the NGO said in a statement.

Newspaper Illum reported that Repubblika were among a raft of NGOs which received donations from passport buyers.

Malta offers its own citizenship by investment scheme, allowing high-net-worth people to buy their way to a Maltese passport. 

Applicants must provide a proof of residence in Malta for a period of 36 months, although this can be reduced to 12 months. They must also carry out an exceptional direct investment in Malta and donate a minimum €10,000 to a local NGO.

The information was tabled in the House by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, in a reply to a PQ by Nationalist MP Graziella Galea.

Among the NGOs which received are Repubblika, Moviment Graffitti, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Nature Trust, Birdlife Malta, Friends of the Earth, Rmjs Horse Rescue, Rotary Club, Malta Kitty Guardians for Strays, Society For The Protection And Care for Animals, Dreams of Horses, SOS Malta, Fidem Charity Foundation, St Jeanne Antide Foundation, Sunshine Animal Sanctuary Malta.

Issuing a statement over the newspaper’s report, Repubblika insisted it had no knowledge of any donation made to it by passport buyers, and donators never declared they were.

The NGO said it will be writing to the minister responsible to inform them on who the donator was, so that any funds donated to it, can be returned back.

“We do not want to have anything to do with the citizenship scheme,” Repubblika said.

Moviment Graffitti reaction

Reacting to the report, NGO Moviment Graffitti also said it had no knowledge over any donations received from IIP applicants.

“We received no donation which indicated it was received from applicants for the golden passport scheme,” the NGO said. “We also can confirm there was no donation close to €10,000.”

It also called out the authorities for allowing donators to give money without declaring the reasoning behind it.

“Moviment Graffitti is against the golden passport, and does not want donations which are used to meet criteria related to this disgusting scheme,” the NGO said.