★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★
★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★
≡ EU SANCTIONS EXPANDED ≡
On the sad, third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union announced a 16th package of sanctions against Russian individuals and companies, this time including an Olympic gymnastics star.
The EU list included sanction no. 1923: Nikita Vladimirovich Nagorny (also spelled Nagornyy), now 28:
“Nikita Nagorny is Deputy Chairman of the Board of the All-Russian public-state movement of children and youth ‘Movement of the First’ and the former chief of the general staff of the All-Russia ‘Young Army’ Military Patriotic Social Movement (Yunarmiya). He was involved in the mass abduction, illegal deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia.
“In March 2022, Nikita Nagorny offered to forward gifts to Russian troops fighting in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
“Nikita Nagorny is a prominent athlete with a large audience and significant influence on his fans. He publicly supported the actions of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Through his influence, he is responsible for spreading pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as playing an active role in rallying domestic support in Russia for the war against Ukraine.
“Therefore, Nikita Nagorny is supporting and implementing actions and policies which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.”
Nagorny won an Olympic gold in the Tokyo 2020 men’s Team event and bronzes in the All-Around and Horizontal Bar, following a Team silver at Rio 2016. He is a three-time World Championships gold medalist from 2019, in the Team, All-Around and Vault, and won a silver and bronze at the 2018 Worlds as well.
He has previously been sanctioned by both Canada and the U.S.
The EU explained this type of sanction thus:
“Responding to Russian propaganda remains also a priority. Alongside notorious Russian propagandists, the EU is notably listing NewsFront, and SouthFront, two outlets presenting distorted interpretations of history and manipulated information in line with Kremlin messaging while also targeting European and global audiences with distorted and manipulated information.”
“Those designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering into or transiting through the territories of EU member states.”
So far, the EU sanctions have been imposed on more than 2400 individuals and entities.
¶
★ Receive our exclusive, weekday TSX Recap by e-mail by clicking here.
★ Sign up a friend to receive the TSX Recap by clicking here.
★ Please consider a donation here to keep this site going.
For our updated, 895-event International Sports Calendar for 2025 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!
