State Duma deputy Irina Rodnina, a three-time Olympic champion in figure skating, said Margarita Drobyazko, who was deprived of Lithuanian citizenship, was treated terribly. He shared his opinion with him Sports24.
“They treated Drobyazko very badly. This is the conscience of those who want to strip Margarita of her citizenship. But they can’t deprive him of the European Championship. How is this possible? Who are they to keep him out? This should at least be decided by the International Skating Union and not by Lithuania. I perceive this entire story as Lithuania’s window dressing. They just reminded us of ourselves,” Rodnina said.
On July 28, Lithuanian Minister of Internal Affairs Agne Bilotaite appealed to the country’s president with a request to strip Margarita Drobyazko of her citizenship for participating in Tatiana Navka’s show. On September 15, President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree depriving the figure skater of citizenship.
Margarita Drobyazko is a 13-time Lithuanian champion, two-time European Championship medalist, World Championship medalist in ice dancing. He participated in five Olympics with his wife and partner Povilas Vanagas.
Drobyazko was born in Moscow in 1971. As an exception, the athlete received a Lithuanian passport in 1993 for his services to the country he represented at the World Championships and Olympic Games.
Formerly at the Lithuanian Skating Federation statedDrobyazko will not be allowed to participate in the Euros.