Ukrainian Fencing Federation reacts to election of Russian oligarch Usmanov as FIE president

The Ukrainian Fencing Federation (UFF) and the entire Ukrainian fencing community have expressed outrage at the election of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) by its Congress.

Source: a statement released by the Ukrainian Fencing Federation

Details: The UFF stressed that the choice of Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Usmanov's homeland – as the venue for the Congress, and the FIE leadership’s advance distribution of a letter in support of Usmanov from over 100 national federations, pointed to a pre-arranged scenario.

Quote: "The Ukrainian Fencing Federation has long understood that appeals to conscience and humanity make no impression on foreign sports officials. Therefore, in addition to protesting, the UFF responds to all illegal and immoral actions in terms of law and will continue to do so. These actions ensured the participation of our fencers in the Olympics and the absence of Russians there.

Our next steps will be determined at an urgent meeting of the Federation's Presidium, which has already been convened, and after consultation with fencers, coaches, the National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Fencing Federation will continue to fight for truth, justice, and every Ukrainian fencer," the statement said.

The election of the head of the FIE took place in Tashkent. Usmanov received 120 votes, while his sole opponent, Otto Drakenberg, president of the Swedish Fencing Federation, received only 26.

It should be noted that following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Usmanov resigned as president of the organisation in 2022 after being sanctioned by the EU and the UK. He had led the federation since 2008.

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