Russian Diplomats Condemn Protest Against Athletes at Fencing Championship in Tbilisi
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Russian diplomats have condemned a recent protest in Georgia targeting Russian athletes participating in the World Fencing Championship, calling it "yet another Russophobic antic" by a politically motivated group.
The statement, issued on July 28 by the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia, followed a demonstration outside the Tbilisi Sports Palace a day earlier, where activists protested the presence of Russian fencers in the tournament. Protesters burned a Russian flag and voiced opposition to the participation of athletes linked to the Russian military. Some of the 24 Russian athletes competing in the event are under Ukrainian sanctions, including Major Sofya Velikaya, Lieutenant Yana Egorian, and Warrant Officer Olga Nikitina - all reportedly personally honored by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The obvious goal of these provocative actions is to play the anti-Russian card to mobilize supporters of radical forces and to damage Tbilisi's reputation as the host city," the Russian Interests Section said.
Despite the protest, Russian diplomats acknowledged the organizers' efforts to maintain high standards during the international event. They urged Georgian authorities to guarantee "fair, non-discriminatory and depoliticized competition" for all participants.
The demonstration occurred amid broader controversy over the International Fencing Federation's (FIE) decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a "neutral" flag. That decision has sparked backlash from over 400 international fencers, who have publicly demanded a reversal.
In Moscow, Russian State Duma Deputy Dmitry Svishchev criticized the protest and called for both the Georgian government and the FIE to respond.
"It is very important that the Georgian authorities respond to such an unprecedented provocation not only against Russian athletes, but against the entire sporting community," Svishchev said. "If the country hosting the World Championship undertakes obligations on visa support and security, including for our athletes, then it must bear responsibility for what happened."
He also suggested Ukrainian athletes may have been involved in organizing the protest. "This was it," he added.
The Georgian Fencing Federation had earlier called for a separation of sports and politics, but Friday's protest showed that sentiment is far from universally accepted in the country.
