MOSCOW, Jul 22The Russian Fencing Federation (FFR) has sent a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach with a request to help lift sanctions against Alisher Usmanov and facilitate his return to the position of head of the International Fencing Federation (FIE), reports Inside The Games. According to the source, the FFR also sent an accompanying letter stating that this letter has already been signed by more than 100 FIE member countries.» On February 28 and March 3, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom imposed unfair and unreasonable blocking sanctions against Mr. Usmanov. It is obvious to the global fencing community that Mr. Usmanov has played a significant role in the development of our sport, expanding the geography of fencing and significantly increasing its popularity on all continents. national and national fencing federations,» the letter said, which was at the disposal of the publication. «Such decisions violate human rights, insult honor and dignity, destroy professional reputation, cast a shadow on the outstanding results of many years of work in the international sports arena. We hereby ask you to make every effort to restore justice in order to facilitate the removal of sanctions against Mr. Usmanov and ensure his return to the position of President of the International Fencing Federation, to which he was re-elected by unanimous decision for a fourth term during the FIE Election Congress on November 27, 2021 in Lausanne. This would be the only correct and fair decision for the entire Olympic movement,” the message says. In March, Usmanov decided to suspend the powers of the FIE president “until justice is restored.” He has headed the organization since 2008.
