Down-the-line.com / Figure Skating. Olympic figure skating champion Natalya Bestemyanova has commented on the Lithuanian authorities’ decision to deprive figure skaters Margarita Drobyazko and Povilas Vanagas of state awards. They were deprived of state awards for participating in Tatyana Navka’s ice show in Sochi.

“The deprivation of state awards will greatly offend Drobyazko and Vanagas. They fought for their medals in the Lithuanian national team and defended the interests of the country. It is not clear why they are now being punished.

Tarasova called the deprivation of Lithuania’s Drobyazko and Vanagas state awards “crazy nonsense”

You can’t treat great athletes like that. After all, they are the legends of Lithuania, and they spit in their direction. I really like this couple. They are great guys and great professionals. I treat them with great respect.

Believe me, Margarita and Povilas never got into politics – creativity was always the main thing for them. And they could only do this in Russia, because, I repeat, there is no opportunity for this at home. Nothing terrible will happen anyway,” Bestemyanova quotes “RT in Russian”.