"The choice of Tashkent, Uzbekistan as the venue for the congress – the homeland of Usmanov, along with the premature dissemination by FIE leadership of a letter supporting Usmanov from over 100 national federations, indicated a pre-written script," the statement reads.
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation emphasized that it has "long understood that appealing to conscience and humanity does not impress foreign sports officials at all."
"Thus, in addition to protests, the FFU responds to all illegal and immoral actions in a legal context and will continue to operate in this manner. These actions ensured the participation of our female athletes in the Olympics and the absence of Russians there. At an urgent meeting of the federation's presidium, which has already been convened, and after consultations with athletes, coaches, the National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, our further steps will be determined," the message states.
The Ukrainian Fencing Federation promised to "continue fighting for truth, justice, and every Ukrainian fencer."
Usmanov is under Western sanctions as one of the Russian businessmen connected to the illegitimate president of the aggressor state Russia, Vladimir Putin.
"Deutsche Welle" explained that Usmanov was elected president of the International Fencing Federation on November 30, receiving 120 votes in the elections in Tashkent, while his competitor, president of the Swedish Fencing Federation Otto Drakenberg, received 26.