**Georgian Authorities and International Fencing Federation Must Respond to Provocation Against Russian Athletes**
A protest rally was held in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, to protest the participation of Russian athletes in the ongoing World Fencing Championships. The demonstration, which took place near the new Sports Palace, was sparked by the presence of 25 Russian fencers, including 17 military personnel.
According to Dmitry Svishchev, a deputy of the Russian State Duma and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, the protest rally “infringed on the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation.” In an interview, Svishchev expressed his concern that the Georgian authorities and the International Fencing Federation have not yet responded to the provocation.
“It is very important that the Georgian authorities respond to such an unprecedented provocation not only against Russian athletes, but also against the entire sports community,” said Svishchev. “If the host country of the World Championships assumes obligations to provide visas, security, including for our athletes, then they must take responsibility for what happened.”
Svishchev believes that the protest rally was a well-planned action and provocation, although he does not know who ordered it. He noted that Ukrainian athletes were reportedly preparing a similar protest, which may have been what actually occurred.
“This is a serious issue that requires attention from both the Georgian authorities and the International Fencing Federation,” said Svishchev. “Russian athletes have the right to compete in international competitions without facing provocation and intimidation.”
**What’s Behind the Provocation?**
The protest rally in Tbilisi has sparked questions about what motivated the organizers of the demonstration. While it is unclear who ordered the protest, it appears that the main issue was not with the Russian athletes themselves, but rather with their participation in the World Fencing Championships.
Some analysts have suggested that the protest may be linked to ongoing tensions between Russia and Georgia over various issues, including politics and international relations.
**What’s Next?**
As the World Fencing Championships continue in Georgia, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The Georgian authorities and the International Fencing Federation are under pressure to respond to the provocation and ensure that Russian athletes can compete without fear of intimidation or harassment.
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