Russian Skating Union approves transfer of Golubeva and Silaeva to Kazakhstani team

The Russian Skating Union (SKR) has approved the transfer of Russian athletes Elizaveta Golubeva and Kristina Silaeva to the national team of Kazakhstan, according to the organization’s website.

What happened? On September 12, the executive committee of the Russian Skating Union discussed the appeal of the National Skating Federation of Kazakhstan on the transfer of Golubeva and Silaeva to the Kazakhstani national team. As a result, the committee has approved the move.

«Based on the regulations on international transfers, the executive committee of the SKR decided to post the athletes on quarantine for 24 months,» the organization said in a statement.

What do we know about the athletes? Elizaveta Golubeva was born in 1996. She is an international class Master of Sports of Russia (2015) and Honored Master of Sports of Russia (2020). In 2022, she took part in the Olympic Games in Beijing where she placed seventh.

Kristina Silaeva was born in 2000. She is the current winner of the Russian speed skating championship at a distance of 500 meters.

What was the reaction in Russia to the transfer? Both Golubeva and Silaeva filed an application to the SKR requesting a transfer to the Kazakhstani team in July 2023. This news caused mixed reactions in Russia.

«We won’t take any actions. We will simply act according to the situation. Even though, personally, I do not support this practice, each athlete has a right to make his own choice,» said Nikolay Gulyaev, president of the Russian Skating Union.

Some of the athletes’ colleagues said that they understand the decision.

«It would be false if I say that I support the idea of changing sports citizenship, but I understand why young athletes seek new opportunities for their careers,» Ivan Skobrev, a Russian skater, noted.

The context. Due to sanctions imposed on Russia, local athletes can’t participate in international competitions. According to the Kholod media outlet, 204 Russian athletes have already changed their passports or are going to do so in the near future. Ten of them have become Kazakhstanis.

Currently, Russia is preparing a bill obliging athletes to pay compensation when they change their citizenship.