Former Russian senator and Israeli citizen Leonid Nevzlin slammed Wednesday the election of Russian billionaire Moshe Kantor as new European Jewish Congress (EJC) president over his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kantor, who resides in Switzerland, was elected the new EJC president Tuesday.

Nevzlin said: We have to be saddened Mr Kantor was chosen as the EJC President in the light of serious doubts over his intentions for this position."

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Nevzlin is a former CEO of the Russian oil company Yukos who emigrated to Israel after officers from his company were arrested for murder and other crimes. He was granted Israeli citizenship in 2003. Amongst other projects, Nevzlin chairs the Israel Diaspora Museum's board of governers.

"When the president of the EJC is close to the Kremlin, an institution that is retreating into dark times and does not respect European democracy, it is unreasonable to think he can contribute to Jewish development in Europe and connections with Israel," the former Russian senator said.

Kantor, whose worth is estimated at $1.4 billion, owns a fertilizer company operating in Russia and China. He founded the European Jewish Fund that assists Jewish identity programs on the continent and the World Holocaust Forum Foundation, which held a commemoration event in Krakow marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. During that event, Kantor awarded a medal to Putin.