Key facts
- Ukraine’s automobile federation lodged formal complaint with FIA ethics committee following decision to lift Russian competitor ban
- Ban on individuals from Russia and Belarus had been in place since February 2022 invasion of Ukraine
- Ukraine claims Russian Automobile Federation has opened offices in occupied Ukrainian territories in violation of FIA statutes
- FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem proposed the move to lift the ban, approved by FIA world council
The ban lifting and Ukraine’s response
The FIA, motorsport’s governing body, voted to lift its ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors in international events. The ban had been in place since February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. According to BBC Sport, FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem proposed the change, which was approved by the FIA world council.
In response, the Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) filed a formal complaint with the FIA ethics committee, requesting an urgent investigation into the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF).
Ukraine’s allegations
The FAU alleges that the Russian Automobile Federation has opened and continues to operate offices in Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea, Sevastopol, and the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. The FAU argues these actions violate FIA statutes and the international sporting code, which permit only one automobile club per country. The territories involved are recognised by the United Nations as sovereign Ukrainian territory.
FAU president Oleksandr Feldman stated that the Russian federation’s actions constitute a clear breach of FIA statutes, to which it is bound as an FIA member organisation. The FAU has requested the ethics committee find the RAF in breach and order the offices closed immediately.
Additional context
The FAU also pointed out that Boris Rotenberg, head of the Russian Automobile Federation, is directly subject to international sanctions imposed by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and allied jurisdictions in response to Russian aggression against Ukraine. The decision to lift the ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors followed a similar move by the International Olympic Association.
Sources
Featured photo by Casey Keyler on Unsplash