The Ukrainian Automobile Federation has lodged a formal complaint with the FIA’s ethics committee following the recent lifting of sanctions on Russian competitors.
The complaint, submitted on Thursday, requests an urgent investigation into the Russian Automobile Federation for alleged breaches of FIA rules governing national sporting authorities.
The FAU alleges that the Russian Automobile Federation operates offices in Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, all of which are recognised as Ukrainian territory by the United Nations.
Ukraine’s complaint specifically points to a breach of Article 3.3 of the FIA Statutes and Article 1.4.1 of the International Sporting Code, which state that only one national body may be recognised per country.
The FAU argues that by operating offices within internationally recognised Ukrainian territory, the Russian federation is directly violating those FIA regulations.
The complaint also draws attention to the fact that RAF president Boris Rotenberg and other RAF leaders are under international sanctions imposed by the United States, United Kingdom and European Union.
FAU president Oleksandr Feldman called on the FIA to act swiftly against the Russian federation in response to the alleged violations.
“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,” Feldman said.
“We urge the FIA President to take urgent action to have these offices closed, and for the Russian Automobile Federation to be sanctioned for its actions.”
The FIA reversed its restrictions on Russian and Belarusian drivers earlier this month, allowing them to once again compete under their national flags after being denied that right since 2022.
The policy changes do not, however, extend to the hosting of international motorsport events in either Russia or Belarus, which remain subject to ongoing restrictions.
The FIA cancelled its contract for the Russian Grand Prix in 2022, which would have been the final race held at the Sochi Autodrom before the Igora Drive circuit was set to take over.
During the period of restrictions, many Russian drivers switched national federations to continue competing, with Robert Shwartzman racing under an Israeli flag and Daniil Kvyat and Nikita Bedrin holding Italian racing licences.