Ukrainian Automobile Federation files FIA ethics complaint over Russian ban reversal

The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) has filed a formal complaint with the FIA Ethics Committee following the decision to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian competitors. The FIA recently reversed a policy that prevented these drivers from competing under their national flags and using national symbols, a restriction that had been in place since March 2022.

In its complaint, the FAU is requesting an urgent investigation into the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF). The FAU alleges that the RAF is violating FIA statutes and the International Sporting Code by operating offices in Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia—regions recognized by the United Nations as Ukrainian territory. The FAU argues that under FIA rules, only one national sporting authority can be recognized per country.

The complaint also highlights that RAF leadership, including president Boris Rotenberg, is currently subject to international sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. FAU President Oleksandr Feldman has called for the immediate closure of these offices and for sanctions to be imposed on the Russian federation, warning that the decision to allow national symbols could be used as a tool for state propaganda.