For the first time in years, Russian fencers have been allowed to compete as a team at the World Fencing Championships, currently underway in Tbilisi from 22–30 July. The decision has sparked significant backlash due to the presence of several athletes with military ranks and close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In May, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) announced that Russian athletes could compete under a neutral status—without the Russian flag or anthem—enabling them to qualify for the European Championships in Genoa in June. At that time, the FIE explicitly barred the participation of athletes holding military ranks. However, in a controversial reversal in early July, the FIE lifted this restriction ahead of the Tbilisi competition.
Though participants were still required to sign a sworn declaration of neutrality and support for the FIE’s “peace mission,” the presence of high-profile military-affiliated Russian athletes provoked outrage. Over 400 fencers, including Georgians, signed an open letter urging the FIE to reverse its decision and to resume thorough vetting of athletes applying for neutral status.
Among the most prominent and controversial participants is Sofya Velikaya, 40, a multiple Olympic and world champion who holds the military rank of major. Decorated by Putin and actively involved in both the 2018 and 2024 presidential campaigns, Velikaya represents the Central Army Sports Club (CSKA), which is under Russia’s Ministry of Defense and sanctioned by Ukraine.
Other Russian athletes under scrutiny include:
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Yana Egoryan, 31, a CSKA member, lieutenant in the Russian Armed Forces, and active participant in Putin’s election campaigns.
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Kamil Ibragimov, 32, senior lieutenant and CSKA member, also sanctioned.
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Olga Nikitina, 27, an ensign in the Russian Armed Forces and recipient of the Order of Aleksandr Nevsky from Putin.
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Kirill and Anton Borodachev, CSKA members and ordinary soldiers decorated by former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Georgian Protest and Political Fallout
On Sunday, a protest took place outside Tbilisi Sports Palace, where demonstrators condemned the participation of what they described as “Russian soldiers.” Protesters highlighted connections between the athletes and the Kremlin, referencing war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. The protest concluded with the burning of a Russian flag.
The demonstration’s event page specifically invoked the memory of Giorgi Antsukhelidze, a Georgian soldier tortured and killed during the 2008 war with Russia, now recognized as a national hero.
The Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Georgia responded by labeling the protest a “Russophobic outburst” staged by politically motivated individuals. It accused the organizers of attempting to damage Tbilisi’s international standing and called on Georgian authorities to maintain a fair, non-politicized competition.
Russian MP Dmitri Svishchev, Deputy Chair of the Duma’s sports committee, echoed those claims, calling the protest a “provocation” influenced by Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Meab Bazadze, President of the Georgian Fencing Federation, attempted to distance the event from politics, stating that the decision to include Russian athletes lay with the FIE. “I know they hold military ranks, but I’ve known these athletes for many years,” Bazadze told Formula TV. “They are successful athletes, and I’ve never seen them holding a gun.”
