Thailand Revokes Citizenship of Man With Hidden Uruguayan Passport
BANGKOK — 1 October 2026, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signed an order revoking the Thai citizenship of Ariel Blustin, formerly an Israeli national, after authorities found that he continued to use his original nationality and concealed another nationality during his naturalisation application. The Interior Ministry’s announcement said Blustin obtained Thai citizenship […]
According to the Interior Ministry’s announcement, Blustin obtained Thai citizenship through naturalisation under Sections 10 and 11(1) of the Nationality Act BE 2508 (1965). His citizenship was published in the Royal Gazette on 3 April 2019, and he received his first Thai national ID card on 14 June 2019. However, on the same day he received the ID card, Blustin travelled to Hong Kong using an Israeli passport. He returned to Thailand on 23 June 2019 with the same passport, which the ministry said constituted continued use of his former nationality, violating the conditions of his naturalisation. The announcement also noted that Blustin holds Uruguayan citizenship and had used it for several overseas trips before applying for Thai citizenship, without disclosing this to officials or showing any intent to renounce it. The ministry stated that the evidence met the legal grounds for revoking Thai citizenship under the Nationality Act, including the continued use of a former nationality and making false statements or concealing material facts during the naturalisation application. It added that leaving his Uruguayan citizenship undisclosed could cause serious harm to the public and the state. Using his authority under Section 19 of the Nationality Act, Anutin ordered Blustin’s Thai citizenship revoked, effective from the announcement dated 1 October 2026.
