ETTU - sanctions against the Russian association and clubs?

[Tackiness]

ETTU, when are you going to announce sanctions against the Russian association and clubs?

[Tackiness]

I realize now that my question about sanctions was naive since the current ETTU president is a close aide to Putin. Here's a bit of background about Igor Levitin:
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/05...family-friends

Original in Russian:
https://istories.media/investigation...shchnik-brata/

Beginning of the text (Google Translate):
"Assistant to the President of Russia and former Minister of Transport Igor Levitin spent more than 16 years in the civil service. As minister from 2004 to 2012, he repeatedly became one of the wealthiest members of the government. And in 2020, according to the declaration, he received 43 million rubles - more than any other employee of the presidential administration.
"Important Stories" found that the fortune of Levitin's close relatives is much larger. [...] In general, the value of assets controlled by the Levitin family reached at least $ 300 million. And these assets are diverse: from transport companies to cottage settlements, from Moscow coffee houses and shopping centers to Montenegrin villas."

Photo credit:
Kremlin Press Service

[Tackiness]

Russian oligarchs 2022
https://littlesis.org/oligrapher/7406-russian-oligarchs

excerpt attached

[Tackiness]

Understandably weak statement from ETTU - they don't even dare to use the word "war" let alone "Russian agression"...

The question now is not when ETTU will sanction the Russian association and clubs, but when others will sanction ETTU and its pro-Putin president.

https://www.ettu.org/en/n/news/2022/...ttu-statement/

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) shares concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and hopes for its fast resolution.
ETTU is ready to help Ukrainian table tennis athletes and will be working hard to guarantee their participation at all future ETTU events.

ETTU supports the latest announcement of International Table Tennis Federation and will follow its recommendation as ETTU did during our latest event Europe TOP-16 in Switzerland.

ETTU believes in unity and mutual respect together with constructive dialogue as the solution to disputes.

The ETTU Secretary General is to set the number of ETTU events and suggest the plan for implementation of the ITTF recommendation taking into account all possible travelling issues.

Also ETTU would like to thank the Europe TOP-16 Local Organising Committee in Montreux for hosting a fantastic table tennis event.

[Tackiness]

Here's the latest from Levitin - not as ETTU President, but as First Vice-President of the Russian Olympic Committee. His role as Aide to President Putin continues.

https://www.sports.ru/figure-skating...i-3-marta.html
(Google Translate)

Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin spoke about the policy of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) towards Russia.

"We worked out in a difficult year of covid, our athletes were not able to take part in all events.

But nevertheless, this year will not be easier for us because of the sanctions proposed by the IOC. We will talk about them in more detail at the ROC Executive Committee on March 3," Levitin said.

[Tackiness]

https://www.ettu.org/en/n/news/2022/...new-statement/

ETTU Statement

ETTU President Igor Levitin today informed the ETTU Executive Board of his decision to self-suspend himself from all functions related to his position as ETTU President until further notice.

In his absence and as per the ETTU Constitution, the ETTU Deputy President will serve as Acting President.

Mr Levitin informed the Executive Board he had taken the decision in order to protect the integrity of the ETTU and its events as well as the wellbeing of its athletes.

[Tackiness]

https://www.ettu.org/en/n/news/2022/...-competitions/

ETTU | 3 MAR 2022
ETTU Statement on Clubs Competitions

The ETTU Executive Board today decided that Russian clubs will not be permitted to compete in any European Club competitions for the 2021-2022 season. This includes Russian clubs due to compete in the semi-final and final of the Men’s Champions League.

Today’s announcement is in line with the recommendations of the ITTF Group and follows on from the Executive Board’s decision to not invite or allow Belarusian and Russian players and officials to participate in events hosted by ETTU until further notice.

Thank you for the informations.

Sad times.

Slava Ukraini!

[Tackiness]

https://newsfounded.com/ukraineeng/a...ions-biathlon/

Russian presidential aide Igor Levitin said Russian sports federations will file lawsuits with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision of international organizations to remove athletes from competitions.

“The decision of the international federations has no legal basis, everything was done in bad faith, it is a violation of the Olympic Charter.

We have the right to file claims, we will do so on behalf of all federations.

We are talking about the recovery of all material losses suffered by the federations during the preparation. Each federation has its own calculations,” said Levitin.

[Tackiness]

Levitin's political role seems to be increasing with the war, if one can believe the official news below. That's not just about sports anymore.

= = =

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/administration/67966

Presidential Aide and State Council Secretary Igor Levitin chaired a meeting of the State Council Commission on Social Policy.

March 11, 2022 13:30 Moscow

= = =

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/administration/67967

Meeting participants discussed ways to protect the economy and the social sphere in the regions of the Russian Federation against sanction pressures.

March 11, 2022 12:00 Moscow