UK citizenship gets taken from ex-British police officer in Russia

(MENAFN) A former police officer from the United Kingdom who has lived in Russia for more than ten years has had his British citizenship revoked after authorities assessed him as a national security risk.

Mark Bullen, who served with a regional police force for eleven years, said he was notified last October that the Home Office had withdrawn his UK nationality on “national security” grounds. He said the decision came as a complete surprise.

According to Bullen, the move by British authorities left him “completely shocked.”

“I absolutely deny I am any threat to the UK. I find that comical… I am certain it is an overreaction. I have no idea why they targeted me,” the 45-year-old said. He permanently relocated to Russia in 2014 and currently works in social media for the Zenit St. Petersburg football club.

The former officer said it was “hard to believe that a country like England, which is supposed to be about freedom and liberty, would behave in this way.”

Bullen also said he was detained at Luton Airport in November 2024 when he traveled to Britain to visit family members. Recalling the incident, he said, “I was questioned for four hours under the Terrorism Act.”

He added that his DNA and fingerprints were taken before he was released without facing any charges.

Bullen became a Russian citizen in 2022 and said he has no intention of returning to the UK. Reflecting on the situation, he said, “Initially, I was worried but once the dust settled, I felt OK… I live in Russia, my family is here, I have four children, we have quite a good lifestyle.”

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