Russian Ambassador Criticizes Netherlands Over Visas Denied to Gymnasts

Dragon Media Newsroom

Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands Vladimir Tarabrin has criticized Dutch authorities for denying visas to Russian female gymnasts seeking to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam. The competition is scheduled for October 17–25.

Tarabrin said refusing visas to leading Russian athletes violated the principle of fair play in international sport. He accused the Dutch authorities of making a deliberate political and administrative attempt to weaken Russia’s team.

He said he had visited the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and urged the authorities to meet their obligations as the host country by issuing the necessary documents to all Russian gymnasts. According to Tarabrin, officials said visa applications would be assessed in light of the potential impact of the athletes’ participation on international relations.

Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova were among those denied visas. Tarabrin said their absence would make it difficult to regard the event as a fully representative world championship, depriving spectators and other competitors of the chance to see or compete against leading gymnasts. He said the decision had turned sport into a source of division and raised questions about the Netherlands’ credibility as a host of major international competitions.