Three-time Olympic figure skating champion and State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina spoke about the decision of the President of Lithuania to deprive Margarita Drobyazko and Povilas Vanagas of state awards, who participated in the show in Russia.
On Wednesday August 10, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda signed a decree excluding Drobiazko and Vanagas from the list of holders of the Order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, 5th degree. Nauseda, after signing the decree, said that all the merits of Drobyazko and Vanagas for the country were barred by the decision to perform in Tatiana Navka’s show in Sochi.
– Probably, in other countries they deliberately make their athletes afraid to go to our shows, they try to intimidate them. A program is being implemented for the total isolation of Russia in all areas. But we have people to play even without strangers. Believe me, there are no such shows in any country in Europe. It is their skaters who will lose a great opportunity to skate. They themselves have always come here with great pleasure, because they cannot earn money anywhere else, especially if we are talking about Lithuania. Also, they always communicated well with our guys.
This small country has long surprised us all with its stupidity and aggressiveness. Unfortunately, there is nothing to marvel at here. It’s probably the only chance I get remembered somehow, especially in figure skating. No one even knows where this state is. If we talk about Drobyazko and Vanagas, then they achieved almost all the success thanks to Russian specialists – coaches, choreographers, etc. The best in Russia have worked with them. Besides them, Lithuania didn’t have anyone in figure skating and, I think, won’t have any. In our sport, no one knew such a country, RT quotes Rodnina.
Drobyazko and Vanagas were nominated for the award in 2000. Lithuanian Dance Couple – World Championship bronze medalists and double European Championship bronze medalists.
TR
Source : MatchTV
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