Alexander Plushenko debuts in figure skating for Azerbaijan

Alexander Plushenko, the 13-year-old son of Russian figure skating star Evgeni Plushenko, has made his international debut representing Azerbaijan rather than Russia. The young skater competed under the Azerbaijani flag during the Junior Grand Prix in Ankara.

This move follows a trend where some Russian athletes seek citizenship in countries with less intense domestic competition to secure paths to world championships and Olympic Games, especially following international restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes.

Evgeni Plushenko, a vocal supporter of Russia who previously criticized athletes for competing under neutral flags, has defended the decision. He stated that Alexander is very young, has never been a member of the Russian national team, and has trained exclusively within his father's private academy.