ISU Statement on Russia's war against Ukraine - Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus

[airgelaal]

I understand why many people try to think only the best of people. I myself was the same. But the reality is not so rosy.
I am sure that most of those who are silent simply do not care. They didn't care before, they don't care now. They were not interested in Ukraine either a year ago or now. They are only interested in their own life and their own interests. They don't care if Russia is at war with Ukraine or with Burkina Faso. Moreover, I am sure that not only people in Russia think so. But the citizens of Russia, first of all, can influence the policy of their country. Whether they want it or not and at what cost is another question. I'm sure most athletes don't want to change anything.
I am also sure that among the current athletes and skaters there are those who support the war. And they are silent only because they do not want to lose their international career. If suddenly soon they will be able to skate again, then they will simply answer, as usual, that sport is out of politics, so they will not talk about Ukraine. And kind foreign fans will believe that they are simply afraid.

 

[caseyedwards]

The skaters, of course. I still expect Adam Rippon to provide reparations to Ross Miner for theft of his rightful 2018 Olympics spot.

The skaters are banned not just the country so why wouldn’t it be the skaters too? Russia could easily be banned and all Russian be independent participants

 

[coppertop1]

The skaters are banned not just the country so why wouldn’t it be the skaters too? Russia could easily be banned and all Russian be independent participants

Imagine a country with a history of cheating being banned ?

 

[caseyedwards]

Imagine a country with a history of cheating being banned ?

Russia’s name is banned because of cheating. All it’s athletes are banned now because of policy decision by its leader. So what are the athletes to do? Enter politics to create new policies for Russia

 

[Japanfan]

I understand why many people try to think only the best of people. I myself was the same. But the reality is not so rosy.
I am sure that most of those who are silent simply do not care. They didn't care before, they don't care now. They were not interested in Ukraine either a year ago or now. They are only interested in their own life and their own interests. They don't care if Russia is at war with Ukraine or with Burkina Faso.

You may be right, but I think a lot of people do care. Particularly because the situation has dire implications for the free world.

There have been lots of protests and demonstrations all over the world. My friend's 12 year old daughter was so upset about the situation that she insisted her mom take her downtown to a protest.

 

[airgelaal]

And another ice-rink in Kharkiv

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccuo1nXFYKs/

 

[Gris]

Decisions of the ISU Council - International Skating Union

The ISU Council met on-line on April 24, 2022.

isu.org

Regarding RUS and BLR skaters:

a) Until further notice no Skaters belonging to the ISU Members in Russia (Russian Skating Union and the Figure Skating Federation of Russia) and Belarus (Skating Union of Belarus) shall be invited or allowed to participate in International Competitions, including ISU Championships and other ISU Events. The same applies to Officials listed in the respective ISU Communications and/or Regulations under Russia and Belarus.

Regarding international competitions in RUS and BLR:

b) Until further notice no International Competitions shall be held in Russia and Belarus. Consequently, the Rostelecom Cup 2022 in Figure Skating will not be included in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series of the season 2022/23. Rule 104, paragraph 14 and 104, paragraph15 of the ISU General Regulations are therefore applied by the Council, Director General and Secretariat accordingly.

ISU Members interested in hosting the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating event scheduled on November 25-27, 2022, are requested to contact the ISU Sports Director Figure Skating, Ms. Patricia Mayor ([email protected]), by May 6, 2022 in order to obtain the necessary details enabling them to submit an application to the ISU.

Regarding RUS & BLR participation in ISU Congress:

The ISU Council acknowledged the feedback from over 20 ISU Members who urged the ISU Council to also decide that the ISU Members of Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to attend the 2022 ISU Congress or other official meetings and seminars etc., and that candidates from Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to stand for election at the 2022 ISU Congress for any position.

Considering the fundamental rights of ISU Members as laid down in the ISU Statutes and in Swiss Law, the ISU’s obligation to ensure that the interests of all ISU Members are observed and respected, and mindful of securing the validity of the upcoming 2022 ISU Congress, the Council concluded that no such Council decision shall be taken at this time. Such decision shall be subject to a vote by ISU Members at the ISU Congress. Depending on the Ukraine situation and possible motions from ISU Members in this respect at the time of the 2022 ISU Congress, the ISU Council will decide at that time if such a vote shall be conducted at the beginning of the 2022 ISU Congress.

 

[airgelaal]

While the Russians are bombing railway stations all over Ukraine, good news has arrived from the ISU.

 

[skategal]

Maybe Estonia will get a GP?

 

[reut]

Depending on the Ukraine situation and possible motions from ISU Members in this respect at the time of the 2022 ISU Congress, the ISU Council will decide at that time if such a vote shall be conducted at the beginning of the 2022 ISU Congress.

I guess ISU are crossing fingers that the war will be over till then and they won't need to throw Lakernik away.
Well, I definitely hope the war will be over. But I'd still prefer him to be thrown away.

 

[airgelaal]

The reaction of Russian officials is so predictable

 

[reut]

The reaction of Russian officials is so predictable

Let me guess: "sport should be above politics?"

 

[reut]

Such decision shall be subject to a vote by ISU Members at the ISU Congress. Depending on the Ukraine situation and possible motions from ISU Members in this respect at the time of the 2022 ISU Congress, the ISU Council will decide at that time if such a vote shall be conducted at the beginning of the 2022 ISU Congress.

I just have a small request. In case such vote is indeed conducted, can they, please, show before is starts a small video, containing:

• photos from Bucha
• photos from Mariupol
• photos of ruined ice rinks all over Ukraine
• photos of certain skaters with "z" on stage during fascist rally in Luzhniki
• quotes from certain coaches about ice show on occupied territories

I volunteer to create such video if they can't do this themselves.

 

[MsZem]

I just have a small request. In case such vote is indeed conducted, can they, please, show before is starts a small video, containing:

• photos from Bucha
• photos from Mariupol
• photos of ruined ice rinks all over Ukraine
• photos of certain skaters with "z" on stage during fascist rally in Luzhniki
• quotes from certain coaches about ice show on occupied territories

I volunteer to create such video if they can't do this themselves.

And then finish the presentation with N/N's RD from Worlds.

 

[clairecloutier]

The ISU Council acknowledged the feedback from over 20 ISU Members who urged the ISU Council to also decide that the ISU Members of Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to attend the 2022 ISU Congress or other official meetings and seminars etc., and that candidates from Russia and Belarus will not be permitted to stand for election at the 2022 ISU Congress for any position ....

Considering the fundamental rights of ISU Members as laid down in the ISU Statutes and in Swiss Law, the ISU’s obligation to ensure that the interests of all ISU Members are observed and respected, and mindful of securing the validity of the upcoming 2022 ISU Congress, the Council concluded that no such Council decision shall be taken at this time. Such decision shall be subject to a vote by ISU Members at the ISU Congress. Depending on the Ukraine situation and possible motions from ISU Members in this respect at the time of the 2022 ISU Congress, the ISU Council will decide at that time if such a vote shall be conducted at the beginning of the 2022 ISU Congress.

Here is a list of the current ISU Council members

Council - International Skating Union

The International Skating Union is the international sport federation administering Ice Skating sports throughout the world.

www.isu.org

And a list of the current ISU member nations

List of member federations of the International Skating Union - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I'm trying to parse, or guess at, the politics surrounding this. It sounds like the Council was loath to take a decision against RUS/BLR participating in the Congress, in all likelihood due to threats from Lakernik of legal action from Russia if RUS/BLR were disallowed.

So the Council didn't take a decision. But I feel like they are perhaps challenging the 20+ Members to build a coalition by the time of the Congress that would enable a successful vote to be taken there to exclude RUS/BLR. (Which might be less subject to legal challenge?, as it would be a vote of the entire Congress and not just the Council.)

The current makeup of the Council, going by country only, is not suggestive of strong support for RUS/BLR. However, these people have also been working with Lakernik for many long years, so who knows what the personal ties might or might not be.

 

[RoseRed]

I'm trying to parse, or guess at, the politics surrounding this. It sounds like the Council was loath to take a decision against RUS/BLR participating in the Congress, in all likelihood due to threats from Lakernik of legal action from Russia if RUS/BLR were disallowed.

So the Council didn't take a decision. But I feel like they are perhaps challenging the 20+ Members to build a coalition by the time of the Congress that would enable a successful vote to be taken there to exclude RUS/BLR. (Which might be less subject to legal challenge?, as it would be a vote of the entire Congress and not just the Council.)

The current makeup of the Council, going by country only, is not suggestive of strong support for RUS/BLR. However, these people have also been working with Lakernik for many long years, so who knows what the personal ties might or might not be.

Yeah, my reading of that is that they aren't confident that they can legally exclude Russia/Belarus just by Council decision. But they leave open the possibility if the majority of the members vote for it.

 

[Karen-W]

I think what it boils down to is the ISU Council doesn't want to be subject to what happened with the FIL (luge) where their constitution doesn't explicitly give them the right to ban member federations from countries that have gone to war, etc, so they want the entire ISU Congress to vote on the proposal before they ban/suspend Russia and Belarus completely. This is a safer move that will save them the hassle of a CAS appeal going any further than the trash bin at CAS headquarters.

 

[reut]

I think what it boils down to is the ISU Council doesn't want to be subject to what happened with the FIL (luge) where their constitution doesn't explicitly give them the right to ban member federations from countries that have gone to war, etc, so they want the entire ISU Congress to vote on the proposal before they ban/suspend Russia and Belarus completely. This is a safer move that will save them the hassle of a CAS appeal going any further than the trash bin at CAS headquarters.

Yes, I think this is exactly that.
What I didn't like is the "Depending on the Ukraine situation" clause. Because even if situation gets (and hopefully till then it will) better I expect those countries to be suspended.

 

[airgelaal]

Let me guess: "sport should be above politics?"

Oh no, it's too easy.
There are 3 types of reactions:
1. They are all sadists, Nazis and fascists who want to destroy Russia along with the federation. We will take them to all courts!
2. We have the best skaters and competitions in the world. We do NOT need any ISU. We will come up with even cooler competitions, so go to hell
3. Who needs competition without Russian skaters? The entire world figure skating will die without us. They will apologize to us!

And, of course, the Russians are the most innocent of all.

 

[ChelleC]

All those Russian coaches can just cry harder.

 

[Vagabond]

And, of course, the Russians are the most innocent of all.

Like the "pure and innocent girl," for example.

 

[Karen-W]

Can we at least rejoice in what amounts to a confirmation that there aren't going to be any Russian or Belarusian skaters invited to the GP this fall? Unless Putin ends this stupid war within the next 45 days, that is...

 

[airgelaal]

As for me, this is very disrespectful to skaters and coaches from all over the world. As if only Russians work hard.
Let the Russian coaches answer their Ukrainian colleagues, what should they do? There is a war in the country and they lost their jobs. But they are not interested in other people's problems.
Tomorrow the skaters will have a meeting with Putin. Why not ask directly when it will all end? But they will not ask, but on the contrary they will thank him.

 

[coppertop1]

Russia did itself no favours with its tantrums, threats and attempts to gaslight. They can go stew in their own juices.

Also, Anna won't be meeting with Putin, she seems to have more maturity than half of RusFed.

 

[Bigbird]

As JT would say "Cry Me a River".

 

[Dobre]

Can we at least rejoice in what amounts to a confirmation that there aren't going to be any Russian or Belarusian skaters invited to the GP this fall?

Provided that doesn't change, it's a very real consequence. I think an even bigger one than losing two of the three berths for Worlds.

I'd estimate 7 Russian dance teams were high enough on the SB list this season to qualify for next year's GP. Three of those teams split, but three of those athletes repartnered, 2 of them together, & I think none of us would have been shocked to see Morozov & Narizhnyy wind up with one of those random, unexplainable invites. Then there would have been a host berth. As always, some of those super high SB scores for the Russian teams were in competitions where the scoring was ??? Scoptcova & Aleshin (who have split anyway) exited the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge with a higher SB than either Fournier-Beaudry & Sorensen or Hawayek & Baker earned during the season. Khudaberdieva & Bazin were at the same event. Then there was the Warsaw Cup. (All very a-political, I'm sure). And that's without the three junior dance teams that would have tried to rake in points at Junior Worlds. That's a lot of lost experience.

Unlike some of the opinions here, I wouldn't be surprised if the Russian athletes returned after a lengthy hiatus to receive top scores. They pop up on the JGP all the time, and frequently get the scores without putting in the same amount of time and international experience as the majority of the field.

But high scores or not, missing a GP season is rough. It does a number on WS points. Plus, this is one of those super important years where the dance field shifts. Athletes medal that haven't had the chance to medal. Athletes win that haven't had the chance to win. And if you aren't there, someone else is getting that experience.

 

[Karen-W]

Provided that doesn't change, it's a very real consequence. I think an even bigger one than losing the three berths for Worlds.

I'd estimate 7 Russian dance teams were high enough on the SB list this season to qualify for next year's GP. Three of those teams split, but three of those athletes repartnered, 2 of them together, & I think none of us would have been shocked to see Morozov & Narizhnyy wind up with one of those random, unexplainable invites. Then there would have been a host berth. As always, some of those super high SB scores for the Russian teams were in competitions where the scoring was ??? Scoptcova & Aleshin (who have split anyway) exited the Denis Ten Memorial Challenge with a higher SB than either Fournier-Beaudry & Sorensen or Hawayek & Baker earned during the season. Khudaberdieva & Bazin were at the same event. Then there was the Warsaw Cup. (All very a-political, I'm sure). And that's without the three junior dance teams that would have tried to rake in points at Junior Worlds. That's a lot of lost experience.

Unlike some of the opinions here, I wouldn't be surprised if the Russian athletes returned after a lengthy hiatus to receive top scores. They pop up on the JGP all the time, and frequently get the scores without putting in the same amount of time and international experience as the majority of the field.

But high scores or not, missing a GP season is rough. It does a number on WS points. Plus, this is one of those super important years where the dance field shifts. Athletes medal that haven't had the chance to medal. Athletes win that haven't had the chance to win. And if you aren't there, someone else is getting that experience.

I agree. Missing a season, across all disciplines, but especially in dance, is going to do a number on the WS points for all of those skaters. And missing two seasons would be devastating. Starting from scratch when all of the other teams have two seasons worth of points at 100% and 70%, the season prior to the Olympics would make it really hard to qualify more than a 3-4 skaters or teams for the GP in the Olympic season, except maybe in Pairs, where I expect Russia's teams will come back as strong as ever. Between the likely age minimum increase and losing at least one if not two or more seasons, Russia's going to have a pretty bleak outlook heading into Milano-Cortina.

 

[Vagabond]

Russian and Belarusian skaters and teams with Season's Best Scores in the Top 75. (Warning: I may missed someone.)

Men​

Rank	Name	Country	Event	Date	Score	Level
5	Mark KONDRATIUK	RUS	ISU European Championships 2022	14/01/2022	286.56	S
11	Evgeni SEMENENKO	RUS	XXIV Olympic Winter Games 2022	10/02/2022	274.13	S
12	Mikhail KOLYADA	RUS	ISU GP Gran Premio D'Italia 2021	06/11/2021	273.55	S
19	Andrei MOZALEV	RUS	ISU European Championships 2022	14/01/2022	265.69	S
22	Petr GUMENNIK	RUS	ISU CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge	30/10/2021	263.14	S
23	Makar IGNATOV	RUS	ISU GP NHK Trophy 2021	13/11/2021	257.20	S
25	Alexander SAMARIN	RUS	ISU GP NHK Trophy 2021	13/11/2021	255.65	S
28	Dmitri ALIEV	RUS	ISU GP Internationaux de France 2021	20/11/2021	253.56	S
42	Ilya YABLOKOV	RUS	ISU JGP Ljubljana Cup 2021	24/09/2021	231.99	J
43	Gleb LUTFULLIN	RUS	ISU JGP Baltic Cup 2021	02/10/2021	231.26	J
53	Egor RUKHIN	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	17/09/2021	223.29	J
57	Konstantin MILYUKOV	BLR	XXIV Olympic Winter Games 2022	10/02/2022	222.22	S
58	Artem KOVALEV	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	08/10/2021	221.51	J
59	Artur DANIELIAN	RUS	ISU GP Internationaux de France 2021	20/11/2021	221.50	S
65	Kirill SARNOVSKIY	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	08/10/2021	216.70	J
71	Alexey EROKHOV	RUS	ISU CS Warsaw Cup 2021	19/11/2021	212.54	S

Women

Rank	Name	Country	Event	Date	Score	Level
1	Kamila VALIEVA	RUS	ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2021	27/11/2021	272.71	S
2	Anna SHCHERBAKOVA	RUS	XXIV Olympic Winter Games 2022	17/02/2022	255.95	S
3	Alexandra TRUSOVA	RUS	XXIV Olympic Winter Games 2022	17/02/2022	251.73	S
5	Elizaveta TUKTAMYSHEVA	RUS	ISU CS Finlandia Trophy 2021	10/10/2021	233.30	S
6	Sofia AKATEVA	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	18/09/2021	233.08	J
7	Maiia KHROMYKH	RUS	ISU GP Gran Premio D'Italia 2021	06/11/2021	226.35	S
8	Alena KOSTORNAIA	RUS	ISU GP Internationaux de France 2021	20/11/2021	221.85	S
12	Daria USACHEVA	RUS	ISU GP Guaranteed Rate Skate America 2021	24/10/2021	217.31	S
14	Veronika ZHILINA	RUS	ISU JGP Kosice 2021	04/09/2021	216.92	J
17	Sofia MURAVIEVA	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	09/10/2021	211.81	J
18	Adeliia PETROSIAN	RUS	ISU JGP Ljubljana Cup 2021	25/09/2021	210.57	J
23	Anastasia ZININA	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	18/09/2021	206.20	J
25	Kseniia SINITSYNA	RUS	ISU GP Guaranteed Rate Skate America 2021	24/10/2021	205.76	S
26	Sofia SAMODELKINA	RUS	ISU JGP Ljubljana Cup 2021	25/09/2021	205.67	J
36	Elizaveta KULIKOVA	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	18/09/2021	196.83	J
38	Elizaveta BERESTOVSKAIA	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	18/09/2021	196.07	J
43	Mariia ZAKHAROVA	RUS	ISU JGP Kosice 2021	04/09/2021	190.33	J
44	Viktoriia SAFONOVA	BLR	ISU CS Nebelhorn Trophy 2021 - OWG Qualifying	25/09/2021	190.29	S
55	Sofia SAMODUROVA	RUS	ISU GP Gran Premio D'Italia 2021	06/11/2021	180.59	S
64	Varvara KISEL	BLR	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	09/10/2021	175.91	J

Pairs

Rank	Name	Country	Event	Date	Score	Level
2	Anastasia MISHINA / Aleksandr GALLIAMOV	RUS	ISU European Championships 2022	13/01/2022	239.82	S
3	Evgenia TARASOVA / Vladimir MOROZOV	RUS	XXIV Olympic Winter Games 2022	19/02/2022	239.25	S
4	Aleksandra BOIKOVA / Dmitrii KOZLOVSKII	RUS	ISU European Championships 2022	13/01/2022	227.23	S
7	Daria PAVLIUCHENKO / Denis KHODYKIN	RUS	ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2021	27/11/2021	212.59	S
9	Iuliia ARTEMEVA / Mikhail NAZARYCHEV	RUS	ISU GP Internationaux de France 2021	20/11/2021	205.15	S
14	Iasmina KADYROVA / Ivan BALCHENKO	RUS	ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2021	27/11/2021	193.58	S
16	Alina PEPELEVA / Roman PLESHKOV	RUS	ISU CS Warsaw Cup 2021	19/11/2021	190.93	S
20	Ekaterina CHIKMAREVA / Matvei IANCHENKOV	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	17/09/2021	189.11	J
21	Natalia KHABIBULLINA / Ilya KNYAZHUK	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	09/10/2021	188.84	J
23	Anastasia MUKHORTOVA / Dmitry EVGENYEV	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	09/10/2021	183.64	J
31	Ekaterina PETUSHKOVA / Evgenii MALIKOV	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	17/09/2021	170.46	J
37	Ekaterina STORUBLEVTCEVA / Artem GRITSAENKO	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	17/09/2021	168.13	J
42	Polina KOSTIUKOVICH / Aleksei BRIUKHANOV	RUS	ISU JGP Baltic Cup 2021	01/10/2021	162.14	J
43	Bogdana LUKASHEVICH / Alexander STEPANOV	BLR	ISU European Championships 2022	13/01/2022	161.76	S
45	Ekaterina IUROVA / Dmitry BUSHLANOV	BLR	ISU CS Warsaw Cup 2021	19/11/2021	159.93	S
50	Kseniia AKHANTEVA / Valerii KOLESOV	RUS	ISU JGP Kosice 2021	03/09/2021	151.35	J

Ice Dance

Rank	Name	Country	Event	Date	Score	Level
3	Victoria SINITSINA / Nikita KATSALAPOV	RUS	XXIV Olympic Winter Games 2022	14/02/2022	220.51	S
5	Alexandra STEPANOVA / Ivan BUKIN	RUS	ISU European Championships 2022	15/01/2022	213.20	S
9	Diana DAVIS / Gleb SMOLKIN	RUS	ISU CS Warsaw Cup 2021	20/11/2021	199.90	S
12	Anastasia SKOPTCOVA / Kirill ALESHIN	RUS	ISU CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge	30/10/2021	195.06	S
19	Elizaveta KHUDAIBERDIEVA / Egor BAZIN	RUS	ISU CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge	30/10/2021	186.80	S
22	Elizaveta SHANAEVA / Devid NARYZHNYY	RUS	ISU CS Warsaw Cup 2021	20/11/2021	184.43	S
28	Annabelle MOROZOV / Andrei BAGIN	RUS	ISU GP Guaranteed Rate Skate America 2021	24/10/2021	175.32	S
39	Irina KHAVRONINA / Dario CIRISANO	RUS	ISU JGP Baltic Cup 2021	02/10/2021	168.96	J
43	Vasilisa KAGANOVSKAIA / Valeriy ANGELOPOL	RUS	ISU JGP Ljubljana Cup 2021	25/09/2021	167.22	J
46	Sofia LEONTEVA / Daniil GORELKIN	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	18/09/2021	165.14	J
52	Sofya TYUTYUNINA / Alexander SHUSTITSKIY	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	09/10/2021	162.28	J
57	Sofia SHEVCHENKO / Igor EREMENKO	RUS	ISU GP NHK Trophy 2021	13/11/2021	160.13	S
64	Viktoria SEMENJUK / Ilya YUKHIMUK	BLR	ISU CS Warsaw Cup 2021	20/11/2021	156.38	S
65	Olga MAMCHENKOVA / Mark VOLKOV	RUS	ISU JGP Krasnoyarsk 2021	18/09/2021	156.35	J
74	Ekaterina RYBAKOVA / Ivan MAKHNONOSOV	RUS	ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021	09/10/2021	151.71	J

A few thougts that come to mind:

1. I wonder whether the RFSF will allow all skaters who want to retire to do so gracefully. Maybe it will require some of those who would eventually like to compete domestically in order to help compensate other skaters for the lack of international competition.

2. Will the Russian and Belarusian Federations be able to stop skaters from switching Federations? I would think so, but the ISU haan't made this clear yet.

3. There are goiing to be a lot of frustrated Russian skaters, especially in Singles. Pair skaters and Ice Dancers might have more opportunities to find new partners and represent other federations.

4. Danielian and Petrosian are probably sendin out feelers to the Armenian Federation or vice versa.

5. Aliev has Azerbaijani ancestry. That Federation should welcome him with open arms.

6. Are Davis and Anabelle Morozov going to get new partners and/or join new federations?

7. Has Smolkin been able to establish U.S. residency that would count toward the five-year requirement for citizenship?

8. Has the ISU given any thought to what would be required to permit skaters from the Russian and Belarusian Federations to compete again?

9. AFAIK, Georgia and Azerbaijan would grant citizenship automatically to skaters who switched to those Federations. Armeniaa and Israel would do the same for skaters of the "right" ancestry. Are there any other countries that would offer a quick and easy path to citizenship?

10. The GP, CS, and JGP are going to look very different next season.

 

[Karen-W]

Russian and Belarusian skaters and teams with Season's Best Scores in the Top 75. (Warning: I have probably missed someone.)

Men, Women & Dance - I have the same skaters/teams.
Pairs - looks like you missed:

23

Anastasia MUKHORTOVA / Dmitry EVGENYEV

RUS

ISU JGP Cup of Austria 2021

09/10/2021

183.64

J

Pretty good review of the SB lists!

A few thougts that come to mind:

1. I wonder whether the RFSF will allow all skaters who want to retire to do so gracefully. Maybe it will require some of those who would eventually like to compete domestically in order to help compensate other skaters for the lack of international competition.

Probably. But have any of them stated they were interested in retiring? Apart from Trusova's Olympics meltdown?

2. Will the Russian and Belarusian Federations be able to stop skaters from switching Federations? I would think so, but the ISU haan't made this clear yet.

Depends on the ISU Council - they have the power to grant releases when the feds refuse. Would they? Who knows?

3. There are goiing to be a lot of frustrated Russian skaters, especially in Singles. Pair skaters and Ice Dancers might have more opportunities to find new partners and represent other federations.

No doubt - and we've already seen a few on Ice Partner Search.

4. Danielian and Petrosian are probably sendin out feelers to the Armenian Federation or vice versa.

5. Aliev has Azerbaijani ancestry. That Federation should welcome him with open arms.

The Armenian fed doesn't have any money, though, so Danielian and Petrosian would need to fund their own skating. Not sure how feasible that is. Same question for Aliev, in addition, has he stated whether or not he wants to continue?

6. Are Davis and Anabelle Morozov going to get new partners and/or join new federations?

DavSmo are still together (and vacationing right now per their IGs) and I don't see them breaking up. Morozov is now partnered with Devid Naryzhnyy and, interestingly, the RFSF posted on their IG a small feature about their partnership just yesterday. They've been training with the new Morozov/Svinin/Zhuk group in Moscow. https://www.instagram.com/p/CcyRG1lrgA7/ If the intent is to change feds, they certainly haven't expressed that to the fed yet - or the fed is making it clear they won't let them go without a fight.

7. Has Smolkin been able to establish U.S. residency that would count toward the five-year requirement for citizenship?

Maybe? They've been back and forth between Russia and the US since last summer but I'm not sure how much time they were in the US between March 2020 and Sept 2021, which could have affected any residency requirements.

8. Has the ISU given any thought to what would be required to permit skaters from the Russian and Belarusian Federations to compete again?

They barely just yanked the 2022 GP from Russia and haven't even touched the 2023 GP. I suspect that they'll let Russia and Belarus back in as soon as the war is over, regardless of whether or not economic sanctions have been lifted.

9. AFAIK, Georgia and Azerbaijan would grant citizenship automatically to skaters who switched to those Federations. Armeniaa and Israel would do the same for skaters of the "right" ancestry. Are there any other countries that would offer a quick and easy path to citizenship?

I'm not sure that Georgia would at this point in time. There have been a lot of calls in Georgia to end visa-free travel for Russians. Hard to say what would happen with figure skaters who don't even live in Georgia or have Georgian ancestry. Other countries that might offer a quick & easy path to citizenship - going off of countries that are 1) members of the ISU, 2) have welcomed Russian partners for dance & pairs, and/or 3) as well as countries that are more friendly to Russia in current times...

Bosnia & Herzegovina
Cyprus
Hungary
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Moldova
North Macedonia?
Serbia
Turkmenistan
Turkey?
UAE
Uzbekistan

10. The GP, CS, and JGP are going to look very different next season.

It was already guaranteed to look different just with the seeded skaters from Worlds not including any Russians or Belarusians, but eliminating them completely... Yeah... It opens things up a LOT.

 

[Vagabond]

It's all very easy to say that Russian and Belarusian skaters will be back "as soon as the war is over," but what does that mean? A ceasefire? A peace treaty? The payment of reparations?

Would there have to be something akin to twentieth-century denazification? After World War II, the ISU resumed holding its Championships in 1947, but Germany didn't send any competitors until 1951. (Italy started sending them in 1949.)

The question of whether Russia should be banned for state-sponsored doping and related issues is yet another issue, and it may lead an even longer ban on Russian participation in all Olympic sports, including figure skating, at the international level.

We shall see what happens..