Russian rally driver Nikolai Gryazin has started for several years with a license issued by the Latvian Automobile Federation (LAF).
Photo: Nikos Katikis / IMAGO IMAGES / SCANPIX
Gints Narogs, “Latvijas Avīze”, JSC “Latvijas Mediji”
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The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has decided that Russian athletes will be able to compete in international competitions only in neutral status and under the FIA flag, after signing a declaration of neutrality. Elsewhere, however, the aggressors are much harsher against the state. The Haas team of Formula One (F-1) has suspended cooperation with Russian pilot Nikita Mazepin and his father’s Uralkali Company, the unit’s general sponsor. Britain, for its part, has said it will not allow any Russian motorist to take part in motor races of any rank in its country.
The Presidium of the Latvian Automobile Federation (LAF) has issued a statement condemning the actions and crimes of the Russian and Belarusian regimes against the Ukrainian people and against humanity in general, preventing Russian and Belarusian athletes from racing in our country. However, an exception is left for those who have been issued LAF licenses. There are not many of them – four, the best known is rally driver Nikolajs Grjazins, who three times last year, for example, won the Liepāja Rally, which is one of the stages of the European Championship.
“LAF licenses issued to citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus based on residence permits issued by Latvia or another European Union (EU) country with actual residence in Latvia or an EU member state are valid,” the statement said. This has caused dissatisfaction among LAF members.
Sends cars to Ukrainians
The Baltic Motorsport Promotion (BMP) team has publicly announced its withdrawal from the LAF membership. “We insist that Russian athletes may start with a Latvian license only if they publicly condemn the Russian regime and publicly call for an end to the war in Ukraine. Then we can grant them “asylum” and allow them to represent Latvia.
The decision of the LAF seems unacceptable and immoral to us as Latvian patriots and supporters of Ukraine. We invite other LAF members to follow our example and, in solidarity with Ukraine, to withdraw from the LAF, ”calls the BMP. The owner and leader of the team, Mārtiņš Dzenītis, says in a conversation with Latvijas Avīze that the attitude of these athletes towards what is happening in Ukraine is the most important.
“If they say publicly that they are against the war and the Putin regime, then it is even good that the LAF takes them under its wing and gives them the opportunity to ride, but if it is not or there is silence, then I do not understand why such an athlete should be allowed to start. So far, I haven’t seen anyone express their opinion anywhere, ”emphasizes Dzenitis, whose BMP team is engaged in the maintenance and rental of rally cars for athletes. It is clear from the conversation that Gryazin might have trouble making such a statement because his father is linked to the Putin regime.
The first stage of the European Championship will take place in Portugal this week and the preliminary participants include both Grjazin and Dmitrij Feofanov. . “Theoretically, Grjazins and Feofanovs can start there with Latvian licenses, although it has been heard that Grjazins will not start, because it could be quite risky for the Russians at the moment,” admits Dzenitis, who will officially submit his team’s withdrawal from the organization today. “This is my opinion and it is not an incentive for everyone to withdraw from the LAF en masse.
Until the decision is changed, we will suspend the license. I emphasize that 98% of the decisions of the LAF presidium are correct and they are Malachi, but at this time there is no room for them either, because the position must be firm and clear, ”says Dzenitis, who together with like-minded people has helped Ukrainians , not just words, supplying Ukrainian defenders of SUVs. “We are driving them to the Ukrainian-Polish border, where there are people on the Ukrainian side who deliver cars to the defenders,” says the head of BMP, adding that he does not like the LAF or the people working there, but now the position must be principled. and without boarding.
Declaration of neutrality
LAF Secretary General Linda Medne also commented on the situation, noting that the Bureau’s decision was based on a previous FIA statement on the status of neutral athletes in Russia. “The decision stipulates that Russian and Belarusian athletes who have a LAF driver’s license do not compete with the LAF license, but sign the FIA Declaration of Neutrality and start competing with a neutral athlete’s license.
In case the athlete refuses to sign the declaration of neutrality, the FIA prohibits participation in any motorsport competition, ”explains the LAF representative. That is why the possibility that the Latvian flag may appear next to the name of a Russian athlete holding a LAF license in international competitions is currently ruled out, because all those who have signed the declaration of neutrality will also have a neutral status. True, the question remains whether signing the status of neutrality will not be a mere formality in the end.
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