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: 12
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.
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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.
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BELIKOV Vitaly Alexandrovich
BELIKOV Vitaly Alexandrovich
head of the Luhansk republican branch of the Federation of Computer Sports (FCS), Head of the Department of Youth and Sports of the so-called "administration of the Sverdlovsk district of the LPR", Director of the municipal budgetary institution "Pobeda Leisure Center"
He publicly supports putin and his policies, cooperates with the occupation authorities of the so-called LPR, and is a member of the so-called LPR Youth Parliament.
The Pobeda Leisure Center under Belikov's leadership conducts systematic propaganda activities in support of the actions of the occupation regime and the so-called "SMO," including the distribution of ribbons in support of the Day of Reunification of Donbas and Novorossiya with russia, the weaving of camouflage nets for the needs of the russian armed forces, and the Letter to a Soldier campaign as part of the Everything for Victory project.
He took an active part in youth organizations of the so-called "LPR" (Luhansk Youth Association, Youth Council under the mayor of Sverdlovsk and Sverdlovsk district). He has been repeatedly awarded certificates of merit for his activity in sports, military-patriotic, cultural and trade union events. In May 2018, he was awarded the gratitude of the so-called "head of the LPR" Leonid Pasichnyk "for high professionalism, many years of fruitful work, loyalty to duty, patriotism, active participation in trade union activities in the region, and significant personal contribution to the formation and development of the Luhansk People's Republic".
In 2024, as part of the delegation of the so-called LPR, he presented the "LPR's esports experience" at the international exhibition "russia" at VDNKh.
The branch of the russian Federation of Computer Sports (FCS) in the so-called LPR, led by Belikov, holds tournaments in which cadets and police officers participate.
In July 2023, the FCS initiated the creation of special military companies for eSports players 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 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.
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VOLKOV Alexander Olegovich
VOLKOV Alexander Olegovich
Head of the regional branch of the Russian Federation of Computer Sports (FKS) of the so-called "DPR"
The regional branch of the russian Federation of Computer Sports in the so-called "DPR" (FCS DPR) under Volkov's leadership closely cooperates with the All-russian socio-political movement "People's Front for russia" (under sanctions from the EU, Canada, Switzerland and Ukraine), created on putin's initiative to "move russia forward through joint efforts" and the All-russian public organization "People's Front. Youth Wing". In particular, the FCS of the DPR calls for joining the Cyber Squad, which was organized by the movement "People's Front for russia". In the description of the Cyber Squad community, it is stated that their goal is to combat russophobic statements, false information about the russian military, and calls for terrorism. Participants receive points for completing tasks, which they can then exchange for merchandise, additional tasks, and a premium Telegram subscription.
In July 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.
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ZYRYANOV Sergey Gennadievich
ZYRYANOV Sergey Gennadievich
Head of the Crimean Republican Branch of the Computer Sports Federation (CSF), President of the Regional Physical Culture and Sports Public Organization "Federation of Fijital Sports (Functional Digital Sports) of the Republic of Crimea"., Co-founder of the Regional Physical Culture and Sports Public Organization "Federation of Strikeball of the Republic of Crimea"., Co-founder of the Limited Liability Company "Kiberaity", President of the Regional Physical Culture and Sports Public Organization "Crimean Federation of Computer Sports"., President of the Regional Physical Culture and Sports Public Organization "Sports Programming Federation of the Republic of Crimea", Deputy Director for General Affairs of the State Unitary Enterprise of the Republic of Crimea "Chornomornaftogaz".
Russian state and sports functionary.
From June 2015 to February 2020, he held senior positions in the occupation government of Crimea (Deputy Minister of Internal Policy, Information and Communications of the Republic of Crimea - Head of the Internal Policy Department, First Deputy Minister of Internal Policy, Information and Communications of the Republic of Crimea, Minister of Internal Policy, Information and Communications of the Republic of Crimea).
Publicly supports the russian invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea. Distributes "Z"-symbols, propaganda narratives and posts in support of russia's war against Ukraine.
He supports putin and his policies, and posted a campaign post in favor of putin on the social network VK during the 2024 presidential election.
In 2014, he was awarded the medal "For the Defense of Crimea" by the occupation authorities, and in 2015, he received a letter of thanks from the so-called "Head of the Republic of Crimea".
The Federation of Sports Programming of Crimea under Zyryanov's leadership receives grants from the State Committee for Youth Policy of the Republic of Crimea to implement its projects.
In April 2022, he took part in a propaganda event - the All-russian rally "For Peace! Labor! May!", ‘For a world without Nazism!’.
The Crimean Republican Branch of the Federation of Computer Sports (FCS Crimea), led by Zyryanov, systematically supports and distributes fundraising for the needs of the russian armed forces, in particular for the purchase of equipment, machinery and vehicles.
In July 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 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.
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