The Ukrainian Automobile Federation has escalated its dispute with international motorsport’s governing body by lodging a formal complaint with the FIA ethics committee. The complaint centers on the Russian Automobile Federation’s alleged operations in occupied Ukrainian territories, which the FAU claims violates FIA statutes.
The grievance follows the FIA’s controversial decision to lift the ban on Russian and Belarusian competitors in international motorsport events. FAU President Oleksandr Feldman has demanded immediate action, stating: “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. 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 Core Issue
The Ukrainian federation’s complaint specifically challenges what it characterizes as a breach of international obligations by the Russian Automobile Federation, headed by Boris Rotenberg. According to the FAU’s allegations, maintaining offices in occupied Ukrainian territories contradicts fundamental FIA regulations that member organizations must observe.
Escalating Tensions
The complaint represents a direct challenge to FIA President Mohammed ben Sulayem and his administration’s recent policy shift. The FAU contends that reinstating Russian and Belarusian competitors undermines the international sanctions framework and creates contradictions within motorsport governance.
The Ukrainian federation’s formal submission to the FIA ethics committee signals that the dispute has moved beyond diplomatic channels into official regulatory proceedings. The complaint’s focus on alleged territorial violations adds a geopolitical dimension to what the FIA had framed as a sporting matter.