Down-the-line.com/Biathlon. Famous Russian commentator Dmitry Guberniev commented on the change of nationality of biathlete Lidia Zhurauskaite. She previously represented the Murmansk region, and now she will play for Lithuania. Today, July 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a document depriving the athlete of citizenship on his initiative.

“She has Lithuanian roots. There is a procedure that is prescribed. What is the problem? Do not confuse a person who has the legal right to reside in the country with someone who changes sport citizenship. She changed citizenship in general. Lydia ceased to be a citizen of the Russian Federation. People who change sports citizenship often do not cease to be citizens.

In the Murmansk region they talked about the potential of the biathlete Zhurauskaite, who changed her nationality

This is not a precedent, but a special case. She has Lithuanian roots, she went privately, the procedure is prescribed. She was not in the national team, nowhere. The processes will go if someone changes sports citizenship to being world champion and Olympic champion. Now there is no process. Can we speak of a defeat for Russian biathlon? No”, quotes Guberniev “Championship”.