Russian oligarch Usmanov returned to the post of president of the International Fencing Federation
Alisher Usmanov, a Russian billionaire of Uzbek origin who is under international sanctions, has been re-elected president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE). Voting took place on November 30 in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
According to the voting results, Usmanov received 120 delegates’ votes, while his opponent, the Swedish fencer Otto Drakenberg, received only 46 votes. Usmanov thanked the international community of fencers for their trust, stressing that this decision confirmed the correctness of his step to run for office. It is reported Bloomberg and Federation Fencing of Ukraine (FFU). At the same time on site as of December 1, FIE itself has not been informed about this.
The Fencing Federation of Ukraine (FFU) sharply condemned this decision. Ukrainian representatives said that the holding of the FIE congress in Usmanov’s hometown and the preliminary support of his candidacy by more than a hundred national federations indicate that the scenario was planned.
The Ukrainian fencing community expressed its indignation and said that you should not expect conscience or humanity from international sports officials. At the same time, the FFU plans to protest and react to this decision in the legal sphere. Further actions will be determined after consultations with athletes, coaches, the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
Usmanov is the founder of the investment group USM, which controls the Russian company Metalloinvest. His fortune is estimated at $13 billion, according to Bloomberg. He is also known as a former investor of the English football club “Arsenal”, and until 2022 the USM group sponsored another club – “Everton”.
Usmanov has led the FIE since 2008, but temporarily stepped down in 2022 due to sanctions imposed on him due to his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. After his resignation, he focused on fighting these sanctions in European courts.
Although Usmanov managed to win several cases against European media that linked him to Putin, his appeal against EU sanctions was rejected. This means Usmanov will not be able to visit the FIE headquarters in Lausanne or attend international tournaments, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In November, the German prosecutor’s office closed the money laundering investigation against Usmanov. Although the oligarch’s guilt was not officially proven, the case was resolved after Usmanov paid 4 million euros to the government and charities.
Usmanov’s return to the post of FIE president caused a significant response, especially among the Ukrainian fencing community. This decision is seen as another challenge for the international sports movement in terms of the influence of politics on sports.
