Champions of terror

Russia uses sport as a tool of propaganda and to circumvent sanctions
Total number:
240
Individuals
Updated: 22.04.2026
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:
Sport should symbolize peace again
 
 
Total: 240
KHORKINA Svetlana Vasilievna
KHORKINA Svetlana Vasilievna
Russian gymnast, two-time Olympic champion in uneven bars exercises, 9-time world champion, 13-time European champion, honored master of sports of russia, Member of the State Duma of the russian federation of the fifth convocation from the United russia party, assistant to the Control Department of the presidential Administration of the russian federation, First Deputy Head of CSKA Moscow, State Counselor of the russian federation, 3rd class, President of the International Association of Artistic Gymnastics Clubs, Vice President of the russian Gymnastics Federation
Supports and justifies russia's war against Ukraine by spreading Kremlin propaganda narratives. She supports рutin's policies and was included in the list of his proxies in the 2024 elections.
Publicly criticizes the decision to ban russian athletes from international competitions.
He has the rank of colonel. He is the first deputy head of the Central Sports Club of the russian Army (CSKA), which is subordinated to the russian Ministry of Defense.
The CSKA 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 frontline, 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.
It is one of the founders of the All-russian Children's and Youth Military and Patriotic Public Movement "Yunarmiya", which is one of the main mechanisms of militarization and military training of children and youth in russia and in the TOT of Ukraine.
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SOROKIN Alexey Leonidovich
SOROKIN Alexey Leonidovich
Former Сhairman of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "World Friendship Games Organizing Committee" (until 05.07.2024), General Director of the All-russian Public Organization "russian padel federation" and the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization "UEFA Euro 2020 Local Organizational Structure", Deputy Chairman of the State Development Corporation "VEB.rf", Former Director General of the russian Football Union, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup russia 2018 and member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Council
He heads the executive committee of the World Friendship Games, a sporting event launched as a russian alternative to the Olympic Games in response to the restrictions on the participation of russian athletes in the Olympic Games in Paris.
The aim of the project is to demonstrate to the world russia's capabilities in holding sporting events at the highest level and to develop new formats of sports cooperation. The project of the World Friendship Games was presented at the largest forums "russia - CEF", "PMEF", "russia - Africa", "russia - Sports Power", and issues were separately resolved with the ministers of South Africa, China, Brazil and North Korea regarding the participation of athletes from the respective countries in the competitions. It is noted that the invitations are based both on interaction with federations in different countries and on a personal basis. Invitations to participate were sent to some sports federations in Ukraine, with a cynical promise to "ensure their safety."
He is one of the defendants in a corruption scheme, aimed at approving russia's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In 2019, he was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree.
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NAGORNY Nikita Vladimirovich
NAGORNY Nikita Vladimirovich
Russian gymnast, honored master of sports of russia, Olympic champion, three-time world champion, eight-time European champion, senior instructor for physical training and sports of the sports team of the Central district directorate of the federal service of national guard troops of the russian federation, Chief of the General Staff of the All-russian children's and youth military-patriotic public movement "Yunarmiya", President of the All-russian physical culture and sports public organization "All-russian Federation of Phygital Sports (Functional-Digital Sports)", vice president of the russian Gymnastics Federation
He is a member of the russian guard and holds the rank of junior lieutenant.
In September 2021, the International Gymnastics Federation named a technical element in the all-around competition in Nagorny's honor.
In 2021, he was awarded the Order of Friendship for his sporting achievements at the 2020 XXXII Olympic Games.
Since 2022, he has been a player of the Sakhalinets media football club. Through the Рhygital Sports Federation, which he controls, he provides support to military personnel of the so-called "SVO" in participating in competitions.
He has repeatedly visited the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Рersonally supports the russian military and their families. In 2022, Nagorny invited his fans to send gifts to help russian soldiers.
He was included in the list of putin's confidants and in the initiative group to nominate putin as a candidate for the 2024 presidential election.
He is a member of the the putin's Team public movement and of the all-russian socio-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’.
As the Chief of the General Staff of the All-russian Children's and Youth Military and Patriotic Public Movement "Yunarmiya", he is responsible for the re-education, indoctrination and militarization of children in the TOT of Ukraine under the guise of "rehabilitation, recreation and education" in order to disseminate information about the "peacekeeping and humanitarian" goals of the russian federation, trying to create a demonstrably positive image of russia as a "peacekeeping country".
He carries out the so-called "military-patriotic" education of the youth of the TOT of Ukraine and prepares them for service in the armed forces of the russian federation.
The All-russian Children's and Youth Public Movement "Yunarmiya" is a military-patriotic organization and one of the main mechanisms for militarization, mobilization and military training of young people in russia. In addition, regional branches of the Yunarmiya are also located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Under Nagorny's leadership and direct involvement, Yunarmiya organizes fundraisers and actions in support of the russian military and the so-called "DPR/LPR".
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LALAKIN Sergey Nikolayevich
LALAKIN Sergey Nikolayevich
Member of the Supervisory Board of the Union of Paratroopers of russia, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Charitable Foundation, President of the Podolsk Sports Complex "Vityaz", co-founder of the Vityaz hockey club, Chairman of the Supreme Board of Trustees (Supervisory Board) of the All-russian Federation of Sports for People with Musculoskeletal Disorders of the russian Paralympic Committee
Russian businessman and sports figure. Former founder and leader of the so-called Podolsk organized criminal group known as Luchok. A former paratrooper with the rank of senior sergeant.
He has close ties with government officials, functionaries and law enforcement officials in Moscow region. In particular, the co-founder of the Vityaz sports club network is Lalakin's accomplice in the Podolsk OCG, and now a member of the State Duma and Vice President of the russian Paralympic Committee, Chairman of the Board of the All-russian Federation of Sports for People with Musculoskeletal Disorders and a member of the Executive Committee of the russian Hockey Federation, Boris Ivanyuzhenkov.
The Heritage Charitable Foundation, controlled by Lalakin, provides humanitarian aid to the so-called "members of the SMO." The foundation also helped organize the first joint training camp for veterans of special military operations with the russian paralympic archery team, and is providing support for the organization of subsequent training camps for veterans of special military operations with russian paralympic teams.
The Vityaz football club, which Lalakin oversees, holds friendly matches with schoolchildren from the temporarily occupied Donetsk as part of the Children of russia for Children of Donbas project, and in March 2022 held a campaign in support of the russian army called "Zа правду #своихнебросаем" ("For the Truth #We Don't Abandon Our Own)".
Other sports organizations controlled by Lalakin include the Podolsk Tennis Academy.
Lalakin has received a number of state awards, including the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, second class, the Order of Friendship, the medal for Loyalty to Duty and the Fatherland, the honorary badges for the Revival of russia, highest, first and second class, the Order of the Presidential Star, letters of commendation and certificates from putin, and has been awarded the personalized watch of the russian president, the orders of General of the Army Margelov and Loyalty to the Paratrooper Brotherhood.
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