Kiribati, a small Pacific island nation, rejected a Russian businessman's proposal to use three of its islands to revive the Russian monarchy. The 'Romanov revival' plan was proposed by Anton Bakov, a former MP who now leads the Monarchist Party.
Anton Bakov had offered the Kiribati government an investment of $350m to build tourist facilities in the country. The government in Tarawa rejected his demand because the proposed deal included sovereign rights over three of the nation's uninhabited islands, which are Starbuck, Malden and Millennium Islands.
They are located in Kiribati's eastern island chain and were in the radar of the investor. The BBC reports that the purpose of the Russian businessman was to revive the Romanov dynasty which was overthrown by the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917.
Former Tonga MP congratulated the Kiribati government
The Kiribati Cabinet rejected the proposal of the businessman, the Kiribati Foreign Investment Commission reported back its findings related with the offer and they were negative ones. Former Tonga MP and academic, Sitiveni Halapua, congratulated the Kiribati government for rejecting the offer even though there is a huge need for foreign investment.
Sitiveni Halapua stated that Kiribati decided to stand up and base its decision on a matter of principles regardless of its own needs and economic challenges. He thinks that is something that should be recognised and respected. Previously, Sitiveni Halapua had called the idea of the Russian businessman as "very strange" and "scary".
A lot of Russians favour the monarchy
In January, Mr Bakov declared that the idea was supported by a great number of Russian people who are not happy with the government of Vladimir Putin, they want to revive the Russian monarchy.
A lot of Russians dislike the government of Vladimir Putin and believe that the monarchy would be better. Anton Bakov created the "Imperial Throne" micro-nation with no territory in 2011, with a leader referred to as "Emperor Nicholas III".
