# The Hague’s visa denial to Russian athletes seen as attempt to weaken Russian team

https://mins.news/en/item/98433

- TASS, 2026-10-13 17:33 UTC
- Sports
- Original: https://tass.com/politics/2201585

> Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands Vladimir Tarabrin criticized the Dutch decision to deny entry visas to Russian gymnasts, calling it an attempt to weaken Russia’s team before the upcoming world championships and accusing Dutch authorities of disregarding fair play. Russia’s gymnastics federation said Olympic champions Angelina Melnikova and Victoria Listunova, along with Anna Kalmykova, were refused visas on the alleged grounds that they posed a “threat to international relations.”

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