After further deliberation, Croatia has approved entry for four Russian gymnasts, including Olympic champion Angelina Melnikova. However, her teammate Viktoria Listunova remains among those who will not compete at the European Championships.
Less than three days before the start of the European Gymnastics Championships, Croatian authorities have reversed their decision and allowed part of the Russian delegation to travel to Zagreb. After Russian gymnasts publicly complained about the rejections and the European Gymnastics Union became involved, visas were ultimately granted to four athletes.
Mario Možnik, president of the Croatian Gymnastics Federation, confirmed the news to RTL, stating: "After further consideration, they were granted visas today." This resolved the uncertainty for some team members, although others will still have to miss the competition.
Among those granted entry is Angelina Melnikova, Olympic champion from Tokyo and one of the biggest stars of Russian gymnastics. Alongside her, visas were also approved for Ana Kalmykova, a member of the main women's team, and reserve competitors Leila Vasilyeva and Alexei Usachev. Melnikova and Kalmykova are expected to join the team in Zagreb, while Usachev travels with the men's selection later in the week.
On the other hand, Croatia's doors remained closed for 21-year-old Viktoria Listunova, also an Olympic champion. Along with her, Sergei Naidin and Yevgeny Kiselyov, two gymnasts linked to the Russian National Guard, were also denied visas. The delegation that will not travel also includes coach Yuli Kuksenkov and doctor Sergei Gulevski.
Listunova's case drew particular attention because she has previously appeared at rallies supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including events where the letter "Z" was displayed-a symbol that has become synonymous with support for the aggression. It was these actions that ultimately led to her visa being denied.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs stated that visa applications are processed individually and that Croatia has been applying European Union rules and recommendations since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Vasily Titov, first vice-president of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, described the visa resolution process as extremely complex. He noted that it required the involvement of multiple institutions, including the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Russian outlet Sport Express, initially seven gymnasts, one coach, and one doctor were denied entry to Croatia.
Those who received visas will not compete under the Russian flag. Možnik confirmed that they will compete solely as neutral athletes, without any national insignia. Croatian team members Tin Srbić and Filip Ude said they personally do not know the Russian gymnasts whose names have been at the center of the controversy.
The European Championships in Zagreb represent an important step in the qualification process for the World Championships in Rotterdam, scheduled from October 17 to 25 this year, which in turn is crucial for the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The women's competition in Zagreb is scheduled from August 13 to 16, while the men will compete from August 19 to 23.
