The Ukrainian government has formally asked the FIA to reverse its recent decision to lift restrictions affecting Russian and Belarusian competitors in international motorsport. Kyiv’s intervention follows the governing body’s decision to ease measures introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Ukraine now urging FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the World Motor Sport Council to reconsider the move.
The restrictions had been in force since February 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine and were lifted the previous week, again allowing athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus to participate without the neutrality requirements previously imposed on them. The change marked a major shift in FIA policy, with national flags, colours and anthems also returning under the new rules for Russian and Belarusian competitors.
Ukraine asks FIA to reconsider Russia and Belarus decision
According to a statement from the president of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine, the country’s Minister of Youth and Sports wrote directly to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and the World Motor Sport Council.
The statement read: “The minister sent a letter to the FIA president and the World Motor Sport Council asking for the decision regarding the aforementioned lifting of sanctions to be reconsidered.”
The same statement described the FIA’s decision as “a complete surprise” to the Ukrainian federation. Multiple sources indicated that the decision had been adopted by the World Motor Sport Council following an initiative from Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The Ukrainian federation acknowledged that the measure is in line with the latest guidance from the International Olympic Committee, but warned that it could have counterproductive consequences within the global motorsport system, particularly regarding the integrity of competitions. The controversy adds another dimension to the debate over why the FIA changed its Russia and Belarus neutrality rules.
The Ukrainian statement continued: “Due to Russia’s full-scale aggression with the assistance of Belarus, Ukrainian motorsport has suffered significant losses, with a high number of our competitors killed during this war, and such circumstances simply cannot be ignored when decisions of this nature are being considered.”
FIA explains its position on Russian and Belarusian competitors
The FIA responded by outlining the reasoning behind the change and stressing that one major restriction remains in place.
The governing body said: “The FIA has updated the requirements for Russian and Belarusian drivers, national teams, competitors and officials following a vote by the World Motor Sport Council. This follows an announcement by the IOC on 7 July and similar updates issued by other international sporting federations. The FIA maintains its ban on organising events and competitions in Russia and Belarus. The FIA continues to monitor the situation closely in Ukraine and reserves the right to update its position in the future.”
The latest decision therefore changes the conditions under which Russian and Belarusian drivers, teams and officials can participate internationally, while continuing to prevent FIA international competitions from being staged in either country.
The previous framework had required Russian and Belarusian individuals to compete under neutral status and fulfil specific conditions. Those restrictions had affected drivers across FIA-sanctioned motorsport, including former Ferrari junior Robert Shwartzman after the 2022 measures were introduced.
Russian Automobile Federation welcomes FIA decision
The Russian response was markedly different. Boris Romanovich Rotenberg, president of the Russian Automobile Federation and a figure included on United States and United Kingdom sanctions lists, welcomed the decision on his organisation’s website.
Boris Romanovich Rotenberg said: “Behind this decision is the enormous diplomatic work of the RAF. We have always maintained a professional dialogue with our FIA colleagues, firmly defending the interests of our country. Sport and culture should remain outside politics: they unite peoples.”
He continued: “Justice has prevailed. We are grateful to the FIA for the constructive dialogue and are ready to jointly resolve all pressing issues. The full restoration of the Russian Automobile Federation’s membership in the FIA is the most important step that brings Russia back into the process of making key decisions in world motorsport.”
The FIA’s move has therefore produced sharply contrasting reactions. Ukraine is calling for the decision to be reconsidered in light of the continuing war and the losses suffered by its motorsport community, while the Russian Automobile Federation views the change as an important step towards restoring its position within international motorsport.
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