Champions of terror

Russia uses sport as a tool of propaganda and to circumvent sanctions
Total number:
123
Individuals
Updated: 02.12.2024
The participation of russian athletes in international competitions is a means of whitewashing russia`s reputation (sportwashing), spreading disinformation, justifying and legitimizing aggression against Ukraine among foreign audiences and demonstrating russia`s continued presence in the civilized world
Russian officials in international sports committees and federations remain a russian lobby and an element of strategic influence outside russia, providing ways to establish international relations and cooperation bypassing sanctions
What needs to be done:
  • suspend russian athletes from international competitions
  • exclude russian sports officials from international organizations
Sport should symbolize peace again
 
 
Total: 123
SMITH Dmitry Vyacheslavovich
SMITH Dmitry Vyacheslavovich
One of the first Russian cyber sportsmen, Co-founder and President of the russian Computer Sports Federation, Organizer and chief judge of the World Cyber Games cyber sports tournament
He represents russia in the International Esports Federation (IESF). Smith's responsibilities include strategic management of the russian Federation of Computer Sports (FCS), interaction with government authorities and partners, and supervision of national-level competitions.
Taking advantage of the regulatory unregulated position of international esports tournaments in terms of their organization, broadcasting, and financing, russia is trying to occupy the esports niche to legalize russia's presence and promote its narratives and exert influence in the international arena, including through the FCS.
The FCS has received the support of putin, who at the 2023 Eastern Economic Forum asked state-owned IT companies to pay attention to esports and support it. In return, the FCC complies with all the orders of the president of the russian federation, in particular, it monitors information in video games for compliance with the laws of the russian federation.
In July 2023, the FCS, under Smith's leadership, initiated the creation of special military companies for esportsmen who could join the russian armed forces as operators of UAVs and other sophisticated combat systems to participate in the war against Ukraine.
In May 2024, the FCS announced that russian esports players would not participate in the World Cup qualifiers due to the ban on using the country's flag.
The FCS under Smith's leadership operates, among other things, in the temporarily occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.
ANTONYAN Emin Andranikovich
ANTONYAN Emin Andranikovich
Businessman, sports functionary, Member of the Board of the International Esports Federation (IESF), General Director of Digital Invest LLC, Commercial Director for the development of corporate and government segments, member of the Board of PJSC "MegaFon", Co-founder of the United Basketball Association", Co-founder of OBA Mediasport LLC, Head coach of the Moskovsky basketball club, Former Secretary General and former Chairman of the Board of the Federation of of Computer Sports of Russia (until January 2023)
As a member of the Board of the International Esports Federation (IESF), he is an expert in leadership in the field of IESF strategy management.
At the same time, he holds senior positions in companies affiliated with the sanctioned russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov (IKS Holding LLC, Megafon PJSC, Digital Invest LLC).
From 2018 to 2022, he headed the russian esports holding ESforce Holding as CEO, responsible for the strategic development of all organizations of the holding: the esports club Virtus.pro, tournament organizer Epic Esports Events, broadcast studio RuHub, media portal Cybersport.ru, Yota Arena complex, etc.
In 2020, he was recognized as the most influential person in CIS esports according to the joint rating of Forbes and Sports.ru.
From 2020 to November 2021, he was a member of the Board of the European Federation of Esports.
As the Chairman of the Board of the russian Computer Sports Federation (FCS), he promoted the granting of the FCS with the powers of an all-russian sports organization in the sport of computer games.
In 2023, the FCS initiated the creation of special military companies for esportsmen who would be able to join the russian armed forces as operators of UAVs and other sophisticated combat systems to participate in the war against Ukraine.
Taking advantage of the unregulated situation of international esports tournaments in terms of their organization, broadcasting, and financing, russia is trying to occupy the esports niche to legalize russia's presence and promote its narratives and influence in the international arena, including through the FCS.
BURE Pavel Vladimirovich
BURE Pavel Vladimirovich
Soviet and russian ice hockey player, Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Member of the CSKA Supervisory Board, Board member and curator of the Moscow Conference of the Night Hockey League, President of the International League of World Hockey Legends, Board member of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Special Representative of the russian Ice Hockey Federation for International Affairs
International russian sports official known as a friend of putin.
Since 2017, he has been a member of the putin Team movement, which supports putin in the presidential election.
He supported putin in the presidential pseudo-elections and participated in the process of his nomination for another presidential term.
Repeatedly played with putin on the same team in the Night Hockey League, a sports organization founded on putin's initiative, and declared "a great honor to play in the same triplets as the president of the largest and most powerful country in the world." In 2018, he received personal congratulations from putin on the birth of his daughter.
In 2016, he officially renounced his American citizenship and returned to russia.
He is a member of the Supervisory Board of the Central Sports Club of the russian Army (CSKA), which is subordinated to the Ministry of Defense.
CSKA regularly provides active assistance to the military and veterans of the so-called "SMO" by purchasing and delivering special equipment, FPV drones, generators and humanitarian supplies to the front, conducts military-patriotic education of children and youth, organizes and conducts sports and patriotic events and promotes international cooperation, in particular within the framework of the World War Games project.
In 2021, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, "for his significant contribution to the development of physical culture and sports, many years of conscientious work."
In 2023, he was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky "for ensuring the successful training of athletes who achieved high sports achievements at the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in 2022 in Beijing (China)."
In the context of the suspension of russian athletes from international competitions, he said that russians should be respected.
As a member of the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), he lobbies for the interests of russia in the international sports arena.
NAUMOVA Maryana Aleksandrovna
NAUMOVA Maryana Aleksandrovna
Russian four-time world powerlifting champion, Master of Sports according to the versions of the AWPC and WDFPF powerlifting federations, International Master of Sports according to the versions of the WPC, IPA-russia powerlifting federations, TV presenter of the socio-political talk show "Vremya Pokazhet" on channel Pervyi, Journalist, military correspondent, Member of the Leninist Communist Youth Union of the russian federation
Actively supports putin's policies, officially endorsed his candidacy for the presidential election, and provided information support for his 2024 election campaign.
She holds the first title in the history of russian sports, "russian Elite Bench Press" in the professional women's division.
Thanks to her sporting achievements, she has gained wide popularity on the world stage and has become a social media star, earning the unofficial title of "the strongest girl on the planet."
She actively used her popularity to establish international relations, lobby for russian interests, and maintain the reputation of russian sports abroad, in particular in the North Korea, Germany, and Moldova. The media called Naumova's activities "children's diplomacy."
She publicly supports russia's war against Ukraine by spreading kremlin propaganda narratives.
Since 2014, she has been providing information and material support to the russian military and separatist armed groups, justifying russia's military aggression, covering military operations on the territory of Ukraine in favor of the russian government, glorifying russian war criminals, and actively spreading disinformation and propaganda about the war against Ukraine in accordance with the kremlin's narratives.
He cooperates with the project "People's Front. Everything for Victory" project, systematically raises funds for the needs of the russian military and supplies technical military equipment and humanitarian aid to the front.
In 2022, she completed a course for military correspondents of the Wagner PMC, a non-corporate, non-governmental military organization responsible for the collection, training, and sending of mercenaries to Ukraine.
She works as a military commissar on the federal channel Pervyi, is a presenter and correspondent of the special project "My zhivy", dedicated to the residents of the so-called DPR/LPR, as part of the socio-political talk show "Vremya Pokazhet".
He received the award "For Merit to the Republic" of the so-called "DPR" with the wording "for fruitful state and public activities, special merits in humanitarian and charitable activities, protection of human dignity and rights of citizens of the Donetsk People's Republic", and has the status of an honorary citizen of the so-called "DPR".
He regularly visits the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as part of his reporting activities.
ISINBAEVA Olena Gadzhievna
ISINBAEVA Olena Gadzhievna
Two-time Olympic champion in pole vault, Honored master of sports of russia, European champion, Three-time world outdoor champion, Four-time world indoor champion, President of the Elena Isinbayeva Charitable Foundation, Member of the General Council of the All-russian Children's and Youth Military and Patriotic Public Movement "Yunarmiya", Athletics instructor at CSKA Moscow, Member of the International Olympic Committee (until August 2024)
She is known as a supporter and confidant of putin in the elections in 2012 and 2018. In 2020, she joined the working group for the development of amendments to the Constitution of the russian federation, which allowed putin to be re-elected for two more terms in 2024 and 2030.
She is a member of the public movement "putin's Team". Until July 2023 it was part of the Central Headquarters of the all-russian public and political movement "People's Front "For russia" (under the sanctions of the EU, Canada, Switzerland and Ukraine), created at the initiative of putin with the aim of "promoting russia forward with joint efforts".
In 2015, she received the military rank of major, the epaulettes were presented to her personally by the Minister of Defense of russia Serhiy Shoigu.
He is a member of the board of the "Resurrection" charity fund, founded together with the public organization of veterans of the russian Armed Forces, which fundraised for the construction of the main temple of the russian Armed Forces in the military-patriotic park of culture and recreation "Patriot".
Lives in Spain and owns real estate worth about three million dollars on the island of Tenerife.
She is the owner of the sports products brand ISNBAEVA and co-owner of the Swiss company for the sale of tobacco products and luxury alcohol Luxury Legends Sagl.
KABAEVA Alina Maratovna
KABAEVA Alina Maratovna
Russian gymnast, Honored Master of Sports of russia, Public and political figure, Two-time absolute world champion, five-time absolute European champion, Olympic champion, six-time absolute champion of russia., Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the russian federation of the 5th and 6th convocations, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Media Group holding company, Head of the Board of Directors of Sport-Express CJSC, President of the International Association of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs "Heavenly Grace"
She has personal ties to putin, is a member of his inner circle and is considered the mother of his two children.
She supported the annexation of Crimea and russia's war against Ukraine, spreading Kremlin propaganda narratives and symbols of the so-called "SMO". She is the head of the largest russian media conglomerate, National Media Group, which holds leading positions in terms of the share of TV audience of broadcast and pay TV channels.
She organizes and participates in international sports promotional events.
She has repeatedly visited the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Publicly criticizes the decision to ban russian athletes from international competitions.
In 2023, the Heavenly Grace International Association of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs, headed by Kabaeva, held an annual international tournament with 46 athletes from 19 countries in Beijing (China). The association's athletes also take part in the annual international competition "Ojag Cup" in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Heads the Alina Kabayeva Charitable Foundation, whose projects include the annual Alina Festival and International Rhythmic Gymnastics Tournament. In 2023, the festival was held in Sochi (russia) with the participation of gymnasts from Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Cuba and Uzbekistan. In addition, the Foundation, under the leadership of Kabayeva, financed the restoration of the medieval Church of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica in the temporarily occupied Feodosia (Crimea).
Also in 2023, Kabaeva supported the international rhythmic gymnastics competition "Grand Prix. Alina Kabayeva Gazprom Champions Cup" was held with the participation of athletes from Belarus, China, Israel, Armenia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan, Korea, the UAE, Azerbaijan, Syria, and Slovakia.
MONSON Jeffrey William
MONSON Jeffrey William
American and russian athlete and actor, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Deputy of the Krasnogorsk City District Council from the United russia party, Deputy of the State Assembly - Kurultai of the Republic of Bashkortostan of the seventh convocation, First Vice President of the Wrestling Federation of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Coach of HC "Granit-Chekhov"
He actively supports russia's war against Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea, spreading the Kremlin's propaganda narratives. In his public statements, he condemns the US assistance to Ukraine, which is why he changed his citizenship to russian. In addition, declared his readiness to personally fight against Ukraine.
In 2016, he received the citizenship of the so-called "LPR". He systematically visits the so-called "DPR/LPR", provides them with financial support, and calls on everyone to participate in fundraising to "help victims of the war in eastern Ukraine". He was awarded the medal of the so-called "Ministry of Internal Affairs of the LPR" "For Assistance to the Internal Affairs Bodies".
In 2022, together with russia Today, he made a "8 Years Before" documentary about Donbas, and explained that he decided to create this film because he was "offended to see the wrong history of the conflict in the Western media."
In February 2023, he got a symbolic tattoo of the letter "Z" in support of the so-called "SMO".
In 2023, together with the State Duma deputy Alexander Valuev, he announced the filming of a joint documentary on the same topic called "Just Life".
He is one of the key figures in the putin's Team public movement and a member of the all-russian public and political movement People's Front for russia (under sanctions from the EU, Canada, Switzerland and Ukraine), created at putin's initiative to "move russia forward through joint efforts."
War & Sanctions 2024