“To put it bluntly, the entire process was riddled with violations and inconsistencies. These issues collectively led to the denial of Zhilina’s transfer by both us and the ISU.” FFKKR provided explanations for denying Veronika Zhilina’s transfer to Azerbaijan

The Russian Figure Skating Federation explains its decision to deny Veronika Zhilina’s transfer to Azerbaijan.

original source: TASS

Veronika Zhilina, a 17-year-old figure skater and 2022/23 Russian Junior Grand Prix Final champion, was denied a request by the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) to change her sports citizenship to Azerbaijan in May. In July, the International Skating Union (ISU) also rejected her application. FFKKR director general Alexander Kogan provided detailed explanations for the decision, outlining administrative inconsistencies surrounding the case and clarifying Zhilina’s current status. Here’a translation.

Kogan addressed the reasons behind the federation’s and ISU’s rejection: “To put it bluntly, the entire process was riddled with violations and inconsistencies. These issues collectively led to the denial of Zhilina’s transfer by both us and the ISU.”

Zhilina was a member of the Russian national team’s reserve or main roster for five seasons, receiving full benefits as a national athlete. Kogan explained: “She was provided with all the resources available to team members – this included funding, additional financial assistance as part of the reserve list over the past two years, training camp fees, costumes, and specialized medical examinations (UMOs). Both she and her coach received payments from the federation.”

Kogan emphasized that FFKKR relies on self-earned funds and sponsorships, not state funding: “Our federation primarily operates on income we generate through sponsorships, partners, and bookmakers. Zhilina was supported by these resources and trained in Kislovodsk ahead of the season. Her last medical examination as a member of the national team was conducted in December 2024.”

Kogan highlighted concerns that arose when Zhilina repeatedly withdrew from competitions shortly before events: “Throughout the season, she was repeatedly included in competition lineups but withdrew two to three days before starts due to illness, accompanied by medical certificates. Despite this, we continued to allocate Grand Prix spots to her as a national team member.”

Lastly, Kogan refuted claims that Zhilina’s inclusion in the national team was accidental: “We received formal requests from her coaches asking for support and her inclusion in the team. Her placement on the team and her financial agreements were deliberate. For instance, her latest national team contract, valid through the 2024/25 season, was signed on January 13, 2025 – hardly a coincidence.”

Regarding Zhilina’s alleged Azerbaijani citizenship, Kogan expressed skepticism: “We all saw the green passport Zhilina posted in widely circulated photos. However, this appears to be a travel document for obtaining visas, not proof of full citizenship according to ISU regulations.”

He also pointed out discrepancies in Zhilina’s residency claims: “The ISU was provided with a certificate from a commercial entity stating that she has been registered and living in a residential complex in Baku since 2023. However, it is widely known that she resides in Moscow, as indicated in her federation contract signed on January 13, 2025.”

Kogan further referred to Azerbaijani citizenship laws: “The laws of Azerbaijan are clear about residency requirements for citizenship, including necessary periods of living in the country. However, Veronika has only visited Azerbaijan twice in her life – for a maximum of one or two days each time in 2025.”

When asked about her future plans, Kogan remained supportive: “First of all, she needs to understand that she is our athlete. She is a Russian skater and can compete in our events as a Russian citizen. Nobody will create obstacles for her. We always stand by our athletes and support them. If Veronika and her coaches wish to continue competing, they will have every opportunity to do so.”

Related topics: Alexander Kogan, Veronika Zhilina