Drobyazko and Vanagas will not come to Kaunas for figure skating championships – president of the Lithuanian federation

Winners of the World Figure Skating Championships in ice dance Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas will not participate in any capacity at the European Championships in Kaunas, said Lithuanian Skating Union President Vytautas Jasutis.

In June, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas, Victoria Cmilyte-Nielsen, said that the procedure for revoking Drobyazko’s citizenship had already been initiated due to the figure skater’s participation in Tatiana Navka’s show. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda signed a corresponding decree on Friday.

“No one can deny the contribution to history of our best couple ever.” It’s a bit of a shame that they can’t come to the European Championships. In other circumstances this would probably be very useful. I am not a judge, and even less a moral judge. The Federation has already expressed its position very clearly: there is no ambiguity regarding the actions of our former couple,” Respublika.lt quoted Jasutis as saying.

Drobyazko was born in Moscow, but after the collapse of the USSR she began competing for Lithuania alongside Vanagas. Together they won bronze at the World Championships. Drobyazko participates in five Olympic Games.

The European Championship will be held in Kaunas from January 8 to 14.