Zhurova opposed the criminal prosecution of athletes who left the Russian Federation
Athletes who have left Russia and plan to compete for other countries may be subject to a sanction such as compensation for the state’s contribution to the development of their career. This opinion was expressed by State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova in a conversation with Lenta.ru.
“We had athletes leaving five years ago, 10, and 15 years ago. But most often to the CIS countries: the competition in the Russian team was so high that they could not play for our country, they had to leave for Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia. Moreover, they did not take first place there either, they simply performed, while continuing to train in Russia with their coaches. Very few people went to Europe or America, and almost no one achieved anything,” the politician noted.
Zhurova did not see the point in criminally prosecuting athletes for performing for other countries, but, in her opinion, it would be possible to consider compensation claims from such people.
“It is possible to collect compensation from athletes who have left. After all, a member of the national team receives a salary and goes to training camps. In the future, this point can be legally worked out: if a person received a salary, the state invested in him, and he leaves to compete for another country, let him return the money,” the deputy suggested.
Earlier, on December 26, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put on the wanted list the Russian fencers Violetta and Sergei Bida, who left for the United States. However, it is not specified under which article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation the athletes were put on the wanted list.
Source: Lenta
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