“The West has been playing against us for a long time.” Zheleznyakov – about the absence of Tutberidze in the list of contenders for the ISU Skating Awards

Group choreographer Eteri Tutberidze Alexei Zheleznyakov, in a conversation with , said that he considered Tutberidze’s absence among the nominees for the ISU Skating Awards “Best Coach” to be a mistake.

The list of contenders for the award includes Rafael Harutyunyan (USA), Romain Agenauer (France), Mie Hamada (Japan), Zhao Hongbo (China), Stéphane Lambiel (Switzerland), Patrice Lauzon (Canada), Sonoko Nakano (Japan) and Todd Sand (USA). Tutberidze was not included in the list of nominees.

The ISU Skating Awards will take place on February 5.

– I think this is wrong. Eteri Georgievna was not included in the list of nominees due to a doping scandal. The price is international, on their part such a gesture is understandable. People in the western world will not understand or accept that a coach involved in a doping scandal is nominated for the “Best Coach” award. Again, I think that’s wrong. Nothing has been proven, and everything remains in limbo, and suddenly they do what they want, and then they do it. The West has been playing against us for a long time. You yourself understand that politics has long been intertwined with sports, religion, and all their promises are not surprising here. All this has been going on for several years – a one-sided game.

– If you had to award the prize for “Best Coach”, would you give it to Eteri Tutberidze?

– Yes I would like. If we take into account the actual number of gold medals over the past year at international competitions, then, of course, Tutberidze’s team won the most, that is without a doubt. I think if a team wins all the gold medals, it’s fair to give them the “best coach” award. But, unfortunately, justice has not felt here for a long time,” Zheleznyakov told .