Estonia Stripped of European Fencing Championship for Refusing Visas to Russians and Belarusians
This year's European Fencing Championship will be held from June 16 to 21 not in Tallinn, Estonia, as previously planned, but in the French city of Antony near Paris, reports Delfi.ee.
The cancellation of the championship in Estonia is linked to the requirement of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to allow athletes from the aggressor countries — Russia and Belarus — to participate. Estonia, however, fundamentally does not issue visas to representatives of these countries.
«Estonia cannot guarantee that all who wish to participate in the championship will be able to cross the border,» said Raido Mitt, Deputy Secretary for Sports at the Estonian Ministry of Culture, last December. He emphasized that the government's position was unequivocal: no visas are issued for athletes from aggressor countries, and no exceptions are made.
Estonia received the right to host the European Championship in 2024. Aivar Paalberg, Secretary General of the Estonian Fencing Union, explained that at that time, different FIE rules were in effect for athletes from Russia and Belarus, which changed several times throughout the year.
Initially, representatives of Russia and Belarus were allowed to compete in individual events under neutral status, provided they were not affiliated with the military. Later, this requirement was canceled. Now, an athlete can be a serviceman but must declare that they do not support the war against Ukraine, which is practically difficult to monitor. The latest FIE decision allows juniors and cadets from Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions among their peers under their country's flag and colors.
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