Russian Minister Accuses Two Hungarian Winter Olympic Athletes of Treason

Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia’s Minister of Sport, has accused 38 athletes of “treason” for switching national allegiance and competing for other countries instead of Russia at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina. Among those singled out are Hungary’s ice-dancing pair Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko, who finished fourth at this year’s main winter sporting event, Blikk reports.

The report notes that most athletes who change citizenship do not make political statements. They rarely comment on Russian politics or the war in Ukraine, and even if they hold opinions, they tend to keep them private.

Despite this, Mikhail Degtyarev did not mince words when addressing the 38 athletes’ decisions:

Changing citizenship is pure treason. This is my opinion and my conviction. I am right,”

Blikk quotes the Russian minister’s words.

The article adds that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not spoken out against Degtyarev’s remarks, suggesting that the minister’s harsh words likely reflect official government policy.

Degtyarev also proposed severe sanctions for what he called “traitorous” athletes, including banning them from entering Russia entirely:

We provide them with years of support—education, coaches, training facilities. Then suddenly they throw away their passports and disappear. If we take everything away, ban their entry, and block access to our sports facilities, we achieve our goal. This is a delicate issue, but there is no room for compromise.”

The Russian–Hungarian duo Pavlova and Sviatchenko compete under Hungary’s flag but continue to live in Russia and train in Sochi, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, for most of the year.

If Degtyarev’s proposed sanctions are enforced, they could deal a heavy blow not only to these figure skaters but to athletes who compete for Hungary. Another ice dancing duo Ignateva Mariia and Danijel Szemko compete under Hungary’s colors, with Ignateva herself being Russian. Similarly, in the men’s field, Aleksandr Vlasenko also represents Hungary. Among wrestlers, the biggest names include world and European champion and fifth-place Olympian Ismail Musukayev, European gold medalist Vladislav Baytsaev, and Murad Kuramagomedov, a key member of Hungary’s freestyle wrestling team.

Via blikk.hu, Featured image: MTI/Illyés Tibor

The post Russian Minister Accuses Two Hungarian Winter Olympic Athletes of Treason appeared first on Hungary Today.

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