Polish airline LOT confirmed that Vitalia Dyachenko, the professional tennis player, was not permitted to check in for a flight because of her Russian citizenship. The carrier stated that it could not accept a citizen of the Russian Federation on its aircraft, acting in line with the decree issued by Poland’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration on March 13, 2020. The decree concerns the temporary suspension or restriction of border traffic at specific border crossing points. This information was reported by DEA News, which quoted the airline.
Earlier, on April 24, Dyachenko asserted that LOT declined to allow her to board the plane due to her nationality. In that incident, a Russian player had a layover in Cairo and was traveling to Nice for a tennis tournament. She subsequently had to return to Russia and could not participate in the competition.
Backlash and debate followed as domestic tennis players continued to compete under neutral status, a policy carried over from last year’s recommendations. Dyachenko, currently ranked 117th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) standings, competes alongside top players such as Poland’s own Iga Świątek, who remains at the top of the rankings.
Formerly, Dmitry Svishchev urged legal action against the Polish airline for the decision that blocked Dyachenko from boarding the plane. The evolving situation touches on travel restrictions, citizenship rules, and their impact on international sports travel, with ongoing discussions about compliance and rights amid political measures affecting air travel.