Thailand revoked the naturalized citizenship of Israeli businessman Ariel Blustein, according to reports published on 1 October 2026. The order was signed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Officials reportedly cited Blustein’s use of an Israeli passport after becoming Thai and alleged that he had failed to disclose Uruguayan nationality in his application. The reported naturalization notice dates to April 2019, making the interval roughly seven and a half years—not six.
Why was Blustein’s Thai citizenship revoked?
Contemporaneous reports say the Interior Ministry based the order on two matters: Blustein’s post-naturalization use of an Israeli passport and his alleged nondisclosure of Uruguayan nationality when applying for Thai citizenship. These are the ministry’s reported grounds, not findings independently established by a court. The reports do not include a response from Blustein.
According to the ministry account reported by Bangkok Post and Thai Rath, Blustein travelled to Hong Kong using an Israeli passport on 14 June 2019, the day his first Thai identity card was issued, and returned to Thailand on 23 June using that passport. The ministry also reportedly said he held Uruguayan nationality and had used a Uruguayan passport for overseas travel.
What happened, and when?
| Date | Reported event |
|---|---|
| 3 April 2019 | Blustein’s naturalization notice reportedly appeared in Thailand’s Royal Gazette, according to Bangkok Post. |
| 14 June 2019 | His first Thai identity card was reportedly issued. Officials say he travelled to Hong Kong with an Israeli passport that day. |
| 23 June 2019 | Officials say he returned to Thailand using the Israeli passport. |
| 1 October 2026 | Anutin reportedly signed the citizenship-revocation order in his capacity as interior minister. |
The dates reported for the naturalization notice and revocation order are about seven and a half years apart. The Jerusalem Post’s 3 October 2026 report used “six years” in its headline, but that is not the interval suggested by those specific dates. Bangkok Post and Thai Rath spell the businessman’s name “Ariel Blustein”; The Jerusalem Post spells it “Ariel Blushstein.”
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Was this a visa cancellation or deportation?
The reports describe revocation of Thai citizenship, not cancellation of a visa. They do not report that Blustein was arrested, charged with a crime, deported, or subject to a final court judgment in this matter. Those outcomes should not be inferred from the citizenship order.
What law did the ministry cite?
Thai Rath reports that the ministry cited Section 19, paragraph one, of Thailand’s Nationality Act B.E. 2508 (1965), and that the naturalization route involved Sections 10 and 11(1). Bangkok Post also describes the reported grounds as involving nondisclosure and use of a former nationality. The primary order and a current consolidated official text of the Act are not available in the cited material, so the precise legal effect of the cited section cannot be established here.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
A 2024 Constitutional Court ruling summary discusses inquiry procedures and access to a competent court in connection with revocation provisions in Sections 17 and 18. That summary provides general legal context; it does not decide Blustein’s case or establish how those provisions relate to the Section 19 citation reported for his order.
Can Blustein challenge the order?
The Constitutional Court’s 2024 summary says that certain revocation processes it discusses require an inquiry and that affected people may bring a case before a competent court. It does not establish whether those procedures apply to this order, whether Blustein has challenged it, or whether a court has ruled on his case. No challenge or court decision in his case is reported in the accounts cited above.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIs the order part of a wider citizenship review?
Thailand’s Public Relations Department reported on 15 September 2026 that deputy interior ministers had ordered a review of citizenship-application procedures after investigations uncovered alleged nominee arrangements. This is broader policy context only: the available reports do not establish that the review caused or specifically targeted the decision concerning Blustein.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
