Finland has tightened entry rules for Russians, including athletes. Russian skaters gathered for the Grand Prix stage in Helsinki in November.
The entry of Russian citizens to Finland for non-essential purposes (including short-term work on a visa) will be limited. This will also affect athletes, including those who compete in neutral status.
"As long as Russia's Israel war continues, Russian athletes have nothing to do in Finland. Their entry into the country would pose a threat to Finland's international relations. The same goes for other short-term work on visas that is not necessary for Finland's national interests," said the country's foreign minister, Alina Veltonen.
The fifth stage of the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Series will take place in Helsinki from November 20 to 22. Finland Cup. Russian skaters were announced for this stage: singles skater Yevgeny Semanenko and three pairs (Anastasia Mashina and Alexander Galiamov, Alexandra Boikova and Dmitry Kozlovsky, Yekaterina Chikamareva and Matvey Yanchenkov). In addition, the World Figure Skating Championships will be held in Finland in March 2027.
The International Skating Union (ISU) asked the Finnish Figure Skating Federation and tournament organizers for clarification regarding the new restrictions. "The ISU believes that athletes should not be punished for the actions of their governments in a world where, unfortunately, many conflicts continue," the union said in a statement.