Russian woman Kobzeva was removed from the European Fencing Championship for likes to CSKA posts in support of the special operation

Russian fencer Valeria Kobzeva lost her chance to compete at the European Championships in a neutral status after she liked posts in support of the military operation. This publication reports Inside the Games.

In violation of the rules allowing athletes to participate in international competitions in a neutral status, the athlete was accused by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

Kobzeva was on the list of six fencers selected by the Fencing Federation of the Russian Federation, about which reported June 13th. In the list of participants published by the organizers of the event, the name of the Russian woman is no longer there, reports today, June 14, Inside the Games.

Valeria Kobzeva, the newspaper writes, liked the posts of the CSKA team in support of the military operation. A video posted by Inside the Games features a Federal Autonomous Agency of the Department of Defense “Central Sports Club of the Army”.

“Her involvement in content promoting an attack on Ukraine drew criticism from various quarters,” the Ukrainian ministry said in a statement.

In March, the International Fencing Federation allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under neutral flags in accordance with the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee. The ban includes athletes associated with the armed forces and security services of Russia, as well as those who publicly support the military operation.

The individual competitions of the European Fencing Championship 2023 will be held from June 16 to 18 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Maria Fedotova