MOSCOW, Apr 11 Russian racer Artem Severyukhin recorded a video message in which he apologized for a gesture reminiscent of a Nazi greeting, shown by him after winning the first stage of the European Karting Championship, said the press secretary of the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) Maria Melnikova in her Telegram channel. flag, used the «Roman salute» gesture (hit his chest and extended his right hand forward). Later, Severyukhin said that he wanted to thank the team and his relatives from Russia in this way. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) opened a disciplinary case against the driver, the team terminated his contract. «I want to apologize to everyone for what happened yesterday at the European Karting Championship. Standing on the podium, I made a gesture that many perceived as a Nazi salute. But this is not so. I never supported Nazism and consider it one of the most terrible crimes against humanity,» Severyukhin said. «I know that I am guilty, I know that I am stupid, and I am ready to be punished. there was no support for Nazism or fascism, there was no desire to offend the spectators, pilots and the team. Excuse me, please,» the athlete added. Severyukhin is 15 years old, he is the winner of the Russian karting championship in 2019 and 2020.
