Some time ago, Malta was considered one of the most convenient venues for issuing European passports in exchange for substantial investments from those who seek to stay on the continent, including Russians. A Ukrainian journalist accused officials Ferne and Siantar of bribery and illegal assistance to Russian Leonid Levitin, who received Maltese citizenship in 2016. Presumably, Levitin's acquaintance Vyacheslav Rezchikov paid Siantar's daughter Celine for these services.