Russians represent Hungary at the European Figure Skating Championships

The Hungarian National Skating Federation (Magyar Országos Korcsolyázó Szövetség, MOKSZ) has chosen mainly Russian competitors to participate in the European Figure Skating Championships. There is only one Hungarian-born among the six competitors. The other five competitors include one Ukrainian-born and four born in Russia.

The championships are held 25-29 January in Espoo, Finland. For almost a year now, it has become common for Russia to be banned from participating in international competitions because of the war.

How can Russian competitors still participate?

24.hu had several questions about the predominant number of foreign athletes, and contacted MOKSZ. So far, the news portal has not received any reply. Among other matters, the portal wanted to know whether they plan to keep the remaining Hungarian skaters, as more and more of them are leaving the country. The portal’s journalists were also wondering why the federation sent Russian competitors if they were aware that Russian competitors were banned from competing.

How this can happen despite the bans can be easily explained by the regulations of the International Skating Union (ISU). According to the regulations, it is not necessary to be a national of a country to compete representing it at European or world championships organised by the federation.

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The Hungarian delegation

In figure skating, Julia Láng (the only Hungarian) and Aleksandr Vlasenko are competing. The Russian Vlasenko has been a member of the Hungarian team since 2020. Mariia Ignateva, also Russian-born, is competing in ice dance and has been part of the Hungarian team since 2021. The other ice dancer is Danijil Szemko, who was born in Ukraine. As 24.hu reports, he has been living in Hungary since 2016, has Hungarian citizenship and speaks Hungarian. In pair skating, the Russian-born Maria Pavlova and Alexei Sviatchenko are participating. Both have been competing in Hungarian colours since the 2021-22 season. Apart from Vlasenko, the Russian competitors all live in Russia, are Russian citizens and train under Russian coaches.