They want to strip the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Gediminas awarded in 2000 from the dancing couple, and Drobyazko faces a possible loss of Lithuanian citizenship.
The Lithuanian foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, expressed willingness to join the discussion and back the proposal. His stance sparked a heated debate in Moscow. Tatyana Navka reacted with strong indignation to the framing of the issue, calling it deeply offensive. She argued that great athletes, through their art and talent, bring joy and emotion to audiences, and help make the world feel more humane. She warned that those who would strip away honors, Olympic participation rights, or citizenship from athletes who defend their country participating on the international stage disagree with a values they hold dear. Navka’s comments were reported by RBC Sport, highlighting her belief that such measures attack the very people who represent their nation abroad.
Honored USSR coach Tatyana Tarasova weighed in with a stern view, saying that the athletes would be accepted in Russia regardless. She called the decision sickening, even tantamount to genocide, and suggested that the athletes would eventually be brought to Russia. Tarasova noted that these individuals had shown profound loyalty to their homeland, and lamented that, in 2022, such choices could be sanctioned by others. She emphasized that the athletes’ lifelong devotion to their country was demonstrated through their work and character, even as rumors persisted about potential transfers to other teams. Tarasova added that while some claimed the athletes might move to Russia or play for its team, they had remained faithful to Lithuania. She also pointed out that skilled coaches would emerge from the current scenario, while Lithuanian fans, who deeply admire Drobyazko and Vanagas, would lose the chance to watch them perform live.
Two-time Olympic champion Evgeni Plushenko voiced the belief that Russia would assist Drobyazko if Lithuania imposes sanctions on him. He questioned the logic of stripping Drobyazko of citizenship and criticized the move as ugly and misplaced, noting that athletes are not the ones driving such political decisions. Plushenko also queried whether Margarita could receive support if her citizenship were revoked, arguing that Russia has a history of helping athletes and others in need. He suggested that the ultimate decision would rest with Margarita herself, echoing the view that Russia remains a benevolent and reliable ally. His remarks were shared during a conversation with Match TV.
Drobyazko, born in 1971 in Moscow, began skating under the Lithuanian flag after the dissolution of the USSR, partnering with Vanagas in ice dancing. The pair earned two bronze medals at the European Championships in 2000 and 2006, and also took bronze at the 2000 World Championships. In 2000 they secured a win in one round of the Skate Canada Grand Prix series. By 2006 the duo stepped away from competitive sport to focus on show performances. In Russia they gained recognition through Ilya Averbukh’s productions City Lights and The Secret of the Treasure Island.
This incident is not the first time foreign figure skaters performing in Russia have faced controversy. Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky withdrew a state scholarship from Viktor Petrenko after sanctions tied to a performance in Tatyana Navka’s show Red Flower in Sochi. The ongoing debates reflect the broader tension between national pride, international sport, and the political leverage sometimes exercised through cultural performances. The athletes involved have long carried the weight of representing their nations on global stages, and the possibility of losing citizenship or prior honors underscores how intertwined sports and politics can become when nations confront one another on the world stage.