By Shifa Jahan and Gleb Bryanski
(Reuters) – Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov has dismissed criticism from Ukraine of his appointment as president of the International Fencing Federation.
Usmanov, who is under European Union and United States sanctions and a travel ban following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was elected FIE president on Saturday, returning to a post he held from 2008 until 2022.
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation expressed outrage at his re-election under what it said was a pre-written script. Portraying the decision as an “illegal and immoral” act, it said it would take further action following consultations.
Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan, an Olympic gold medallist, expressed disappointment and concern that Usmanov had received votes from 120 representatives of various countries, describing it as a “a lot”.
Asked about the criticism, a spokesman for Usmanov told Reuters that the billionaire businessman had been elected by an overwhelming majority of votes.
“Calling this election ‘illegal and immoral’ is highly disrespectful both to the democratic election system and to the opinion of 80% of FIE members,” the spokesman said.
He said Usmanov, a former shareholder of English soccer club Arsenal who also had ties to Everton through his holding company, had upheld equal access and equal rights for all national federations while serving as FIE chief.
“In this regard, the statement of the Ukrainian fencer that 120 votes cast for his candidacy is ‘a lot’ is puzzling. As is known, at previous election congresses, Mr Usmanov was elected by acclamation, that is, in fact, unanimously. So why is 120 a lot?’,” the spokesman said.
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan and Gleb Bryanski)
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