Navka called the Lithuanian authorities’ willingness to deprive Drobyazko and Vanagas of citizenship “disgusting”

2006 Olympic champion in ice dancing and organizer of ice shows Tatiana Navka spoke about the desire of the Lithuanian authorities to deprive the figure skaters Margarita Drobyazko and Povilas Vanagas of citizenship.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said he would have stripped Drobyazko and Vanagas of their citizenship because of their participation in Navka’s Swan Lake show in Sochi.

– This is absolutely disgusting, it once again demonstrates the manifestation of blind hatred towards our country. Great athletes give great joy, incredible emotions with their art, creativity, talent, make the world cleaner, because art is medicine for souls. People who want to deprive those who have defended the honor of their country in international competitions, the Olympics, awards and citizenship, cause me contempt. I’m not talking about those who really love their athletes, their heroes, I’m talking about the people who are in power there. It’s not up to them to make such decisions,” RBC Sport Navka quotes.

Drobyazko, who dances on ice with her husband Povilas Vanagas, was born in Moscow, but after the collapse of the USSR, she represented Lithuania on the international stage. The skaters are bronze medalists at the 2000 World Championships, participants in five Olympic Games. In 2000, Drobyazko and Vanagas were awarded Knight’s Crosses of the Order of Gediminas.

Earlier, the press secretary of the President of Lithuania said that it is necessary to consider the selection of Drobyazko state awards in case of participation in a Russian commercial show. In turn, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Law and Order Committee, Stasis Shedbaras, proposed to deprive Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship. He pointed out that the figure skater received Lithuanian citizenship as a gift, which, as he notes, can be revoked.

RBC Sports