Russian fencers Sergei and Violetta Bida are reportedly wanted on criminal charges, according to a filing in the database of Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs as relayed by TASS. The charge named is “Unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service,” carrying a potential prison sentence of up to ten years. Since 2023 the couple has resided in California, continuing their fencing careers as registered athletes and coaches at the Fencing Masters Academy in San Jose. [TASS via official database reports]
The SHOT Telegram channel notes that the claim about the Bida charge came from a Russian article about their supposed defection from service. The couple allegedly participated in a United States Championship in July 2023 without Russian authorization. [SHOT channel summary]
In related developments, Sofia Pozdnyakova’s former husband Oleg Knysh and Konstantin Lokhanov — who split from Pozdnyakova after her move to America — were also listed as participants allowed to compete in the US Championships. A key criterion reportedly cited for athlete participation was a public stance against supporting the Russian military actions in Ukraine. [SHOT channel context]
TASS also reported that the Russian Fencing Federation, known as the RFF, dismissed senior coach Alexander Glazunov for taking part in the US Championships without permission from Russian authorities. In October, RFF president Ilgar Mamedov commented on the performances of Russians abroad and the topic of changing sporting citizenship. He cited Sergei Bida’s departure as an example and urged others not to follow suit. He added that if athletes choose to go, they should do so transparently and independently of state sponsorship. [RFF statements and TASS report]
“I’ve told our athletes that the path forward does not require leaving for the sake of leaving. If someone wants to go, they may, but they should understand the consequences. Leave with integrity, not like Bida did. There is no serfdom, but honesty matters,” Mamedov remarked in a later interview. He also noted that a meeting of about 100 people at Sirius the day before did not include any discussion of departures. “Many athletes have opportunities to compete internationally, but state funds are reserved for national team candidates. Those seeking international practice can pursue it at their own expense or through regional support,” he said. [Mamedov remarks and Sirius meeting]
Famous sports dynasty
Sergei Bida is affiliated with the Dynamo sports community and serves in the Russian Guard at the rank of warrant officer. Violetta Bida holds active service with CSKA and is employed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Sergei specializes in epee, having earned a silver medal in the team event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, three European team titles, and World Championship medals including silver in individual events and bronze in 2020. Violetta, under the name Khrapina, won a silver medal in the 2019 World Championships team event and competed in Tokyo 2020.
The Bida family carries a long fencing lineage. Sergei’s grandmother, Valentina Rastvorova, from Odessa, was the 1960 Olympic champion in foil and a multiple world champion, as well as a prolific USSR titleholder. Sergei’s mother, Elena Grishina, is an accomplished foil fencer, holding the title of international master of sports and having claimed World and European titles. The family also features water polo champions, including Sergei’s grandfather Boris Grishin, a USSR Honored Master of Sports and Olympic medalist, and his uncle Evgeny Grishin, the 1980 Olympic champion in water polo and a USSR Honored Master of Sports.
In sum, the Bida family is marked by a deep tradition in Olympic fencing and related sports, illustrating how one generation’s achievements can echo into the next across national teams and military sporting programs. [Heritage notes compiled from public sporting records and official biographical data]