Uzbek–Russian businessman, Alisher Usmanov has been re-elected as President of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), a position he has held since 2008. The election, which took place on November 30, 2024, at the FIE congress in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, has caused controversy, particularly within the Ukrainian Fencing Federation (UFF).
The UFF has issued a statement following the election of Alisher Usmanov as the new president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
“The Fencing Federation of Ukraine and the entire Ukrainian fencing community are outraged by the decision of the Congress of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) to elect Alisher Usmanov as FIE president,” the statement said.
Representatives from the Ukrainian federation suggested that the election, which saw Usmanov secure 120 votes against his opponent Otto Drakenberg of Sweden, was a result of a pre-arranged plan. They pointed out that Usmanov’s support from over 100 national federations and the fact that the election was held in his hometown of Tashkent raised questions about the transparency of the election process.
Usmanov, who had been the FIE president since 2008, stepped down in March 2022 due to European Union sanctions. The election for the FIE presidency took place on November 30 at the organization’s congress in Tashkent, where Usmanov defeated Otto Drakenberg, president of the Swedish Fencing Federation, by a vote of 120 to 26.
The UFF emphasized its ongoing commitment to defending the rights of Ukrainian athletes, citing its efforts in securing the exclusion of Russian competitors from international events, including the Olympics.
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