The European Championships in women’s artistic gymnastics, set to begin in Zagreb, Croatia, will see the absence of several top Russian athletes, including Olympic and world champion Angelina Melnikova. The decision by Croatian authorities to deny visa applications for nine members of the Russian delegation has sparked controversy, with the Russian Gymnastics Federation expressing disappointment and concern over the implications for fair competition. The event, scheduled to run from July 15 to August 23, will feature more than 600 competitors. Among those excluded from participation are Melnikova, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and holds multiple world titles, and fellow star Viktoriya Listunova. Other affected individuals include Ana Kalmikova, Leila Vasiljeva, Aleksey Usachev, Sergey Naidin, Evgeniy Kisel, coach Yuriy Kukushkin, and team doctor Sergey Gulevsky. According to reports, these nine were denied visas despite submitting identical documentation alongside the rest of their 65-member delegation, which received visas. The Russian Gymnastics Federation stated that the denial of visas was perceived as effectively barring one of the main contenders from competing. “Two days before departure to the European Championships in Zagreb, the leadership of the Russian women's team and some members of the men's team were refused entry visas,” the federation noted. It added that the refusal came despite the submission of all necessary documents, and that the lack of visas for the team leadership was particularly confusing given that other members of the delegation had been granted access. In response, Melnikova posted on her Instagram account, using an emoji of a broken chain, and wrote: “Sport becomes great only when the best compete against each other. When powerful competitors are not allowed to participate, the most precious thing, fair competition, vanishes.” Her message reflects frustration among Russian athletes who feel they are being unfairly restricted from participating in international competitions. The Russian federation has raised concerns about the broader consequences of such administrative decisions. They argue that such actions could directly influence the composition of teams and the fairness of qualification tournaments. “This incident threatens to create a dangerous precedent where administrative decisions can directly affect the list of participants and the course of qualifying tournaments,” the federation warned. The Russian Gymnastics Federation has already informed both the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) about the situation and called for a resolution. The issue highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international sports events following the suspension imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian athletes have long faced restrictions in international competition, but recent changes have allowed them to compete under neutral flags and play national anthems. In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and play their national anthems, applicable to both individual and team sports. This followed similar moves by several international sports federations. On May 18, the FIG executive board decided to lift previous restrictions on Russian athletes, allowing them to compete under the Russian flag. This policy was further supported in 2023, when the IOC permitted the participation of “neutral” athletes, a status that Melnikova has benefited from. At the last World Championships in October 2025, she won the all-around title and added two silver medals in floor exercises. Despite these developments, the current visa denial raises questions about the consistency of policies affecting Russian athletes. German broadcaster DW News previously highlighted the ambiguity of how Melnikova could qualify as a neutral athlete while running as a member of a political party in local elections. Such issues underscore the complex interplay between sport and politics, especially in the context of international sanctions and geopolitical tensions.
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