Margarita Drobiazko ‘discredited the title of Lithuania’ by attending an occasion in Sochi, that nation’s inside ministry has stated
Lithuanian lawmakers have set in movement a course of to revoke the citizenship of the Moscow-born ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko, on account of her participation in an occasion in Russia final 12 months. Officers additionally cited her ties to distinguished Russian figures as a cause for the transfer.
“After evaluating all of the elements, we submit an enchantment to the President of the Republic of Lithuania … whether or not the motives [to revoke Drobiazko’s citizenship] are justified or not,” deputy minister of Inside Affairs Arnoldas Abramavicius stated at a press convention on Friday, in response to native media.
The deputy minister famous that there aren’t any “accusations” that Drobiazko is “some form of terrorist” however stated that “assist to the aggressor state might be each ethical and monetary.”
Abramavicius claimed that Drobiazko’s participation in ice dancing occasions in Russia “offers monetary assist to the [Russian] regime.”
In August 2022 Drobiazko and her husband, Lithuanian nationwide Povilas Vanagas, participated in an occasion within the Russian metropolis of Sochi. Quickly afterwards, the Baltic nation’s president Gitanas Nauseda known as the {couples}’ attendance “cynical” and added that the choice to grant Drobiazko Lithuanian citizenship in 1993 now “seems to be like a depressing farce.”
Each Drobiazko and her husband at present reside in Moscow, Radio Free Europe reported final month. Minister Abramavicius added in his feedback to the press on Friday that the couple haven’t been current in Lithuania for a while.
The competitors in Sochi was organized by Tatyana Navka, the spouse of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Within the days after the launch of Moscow’s offensive on Kiev final 12 months, a number of distinguished Russian political figures have been hit with European Union (EU) sanctions, Peskov included.
The proposal to strip Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship follows the introduction earlier this 12 months of a legislation that allows the revocation of passports granted to individuals for excellent contributions to sports activities or tradition, if they’re later thought-about a risk to the Baltic nation’s nationwide safety pursuits. The ultimate choice will fall to the workplace of president Nauseda.
In his feedback on Friday, inner affairs minister Abramavicius additionally said that Lithuanian residents similar to Drobiazko are “anticipated to respect the independence of the state and its territorial integrity” however added that, by cooperating with a “hostile regime,” the ice dancer “discredits the title of Lithuania.”
Drobiazko, 51, formally retired from ice dancing in 2006. She is the 2000 World bronze medalist and is a veteran of 5 Olympic Video games.
You’ll be able to share this story on social media:
Supply hyperlink
