Bulgaria’s Charter Flight Refusal Nearly Derailed Russian Gymnasts’ Trip to European Championships
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Despite problems with their transfer from Istanbul, the Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, on May 26, where the 2026 European Championships will be held from May 27 to 31. However, the team’s arrival was significantly complicated after Bulgarian aviation authorities refused — under a false pretext — to approve a charter flight by a Turkish carrier that the Russian Gymnastics Federation planned to use due to a lack of available seats on regular flights from Istanbul.
With little time left before the championships, the federation turned to another Turkish carrier — Turkish Airlines — which quickly swapped the aircraft on its regular Istanbul–Varna route for a larger-capacity plane. This allowed the entire Russian delegation to arrive on time, for which the federation expressed its sincere gratitude.
It is also puzzling that several Russian journalists were denied visas to cover the European Championships in Bulgaria, citing «security concerns.»
The European Championships will be the first major international competition for Russian gymnasts since their reinstatement. Quotas for the World Championships will be awarded based on the results of the continental tournament.
WorldInternational Gymnastics Federation Allows Russian Gymnasts to Compete With Their Flag and Anthem18 May, 08:38 GMT
