Full Breakdown
FAU Challenges FIA’s Lifting of Restrictions on Russian Motorsport Entities
9/1/2026, 8:22:40 PM
The Appeal and Its Basis
The Ukrainian Automobile Federation (FAU) has lodged a formal appeal against a World Motor Sport Council decision that lifted previous bans on Russian and Belarusian drivers, teams, officials and competitors. The FAU argues that the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) continues to operate offices in Crimea, Sevastopol and the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts—territories the United Nations recognises as part of Ukraine. Under FIA statutes and the International Sporting Code, only one automobile club may represent each country, a rule the FAU says the RAF is violating.
Background and Context
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, the FAU reports that motorsport activities in Ukraine have been severely disrupted and that 23 Ukrainian competitors and officials have been killed, according to the federation’s statements. The head of the RAF, Boris Rotenberg, is noted by the FAU as being subject to sanctions imposed by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and other allied jurisdictions. The FIA’s ethics committee, now overseen by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Senate President Carmelo Sanz de Barros, approved the council’s vote to relax the restrictions.
Official Statements & Responses
The FIA declined further comment when approached for additional remarks.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The FAU further notes that the FIA World Motor Sport Council's decision to lift restrictions on Russian and Belarusian motorsport competitors effectively amounts to the FIA imposing restrictions on competitors from Ukraine and numerous partner countries that have prohibited participation in competitions where the national symbols of the aggressor state are displayed.” — Oleksandr Feldman, president of the FAU
- “This is a flagrant breach of the FIA statutes and the International Sporting Code by the Russian Automobile Federation, which, like every FIA member organisation, is bound to comply with them.” — Oleksandr Feldman, president of the FAU
- “Feldman added: "This is a clear breach of the FIA statutes by the Russian Automobile Federation, which, as an FIA member organisation, is bound to comply with them.” — Oleksandr Feldman, president of the FAU
What’s Next
The FAU has indicated it will pursue all legal remedies available to enforce compliance with FIA statutes and restore what it describes as the integrity of the global motorsport system. The FIA reserves the right to revise its position on the matter in the future, though no specific timeline has been disclosed.
