Alisher Usmanov Re-Elected as International Fencing Federation President

The Russian-Uzbek billionaire secures a fifth term despite ongoing international sanctions and criticism.

Alisher Usmanov won re-election as president of the International Fencing Federation (FIE) with 120 votes at the organization's congress in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Usmanov, under international sanctions since 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had stepped down temporarily but returned to run for the position again.
Swedish challenger Otto Drakenberg received 26 votes, highlighting some dissent within the federation, particularly from Nordic and Baltic nations.
The FIE's ethics committee had been investigating Usmanov's candidacy in light of the sanctions, though the status of the investigation remains unclear following his victory.
Criticism of Usmanov's re-election came from Ukrainian officials, who accused him of supporting Russia's war efforts, while Usmanov pledged to continue promoting the growth and accessibility of fencing globally.