Sanctioned Russian ex-motorsport boss returns to the FIA

The Russian used to be part of the FIA World Motor Sport Council but stepped down from his position voluntarily in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, in accordance with International Olympic Committee-aligned rules.

As of May this year, the reinstating of Russian and Belarusians was approved by the FIA.

Kiryanov was then reinstated by President Mohammed Ben Sulayem ahead of an FIA meeting on the 11 June.

Kiryanov is also a former Russian deputy minister of internal affairs. He is also on the sanctions list in the US, UK, and Canada, among others. He is under sanctions in the European Union because of being a director in a government-affiliated company.

An FIA spokesperson told GPblog: "In accordance with Article 1.2 of the FIA Statutes, the FIA is a politically neutral body, governed by a democratically elected Senate. Members of the World Motor Sport Council are elected, and serve, in an individual capacity.

Other federations also have Russians with government ties serving in its committees despite banning the country's athletes and clubs from competing under their flag, such as FIFA and UEFA.

Kiryanov is also not an eligible member to be elected for the World Council in the next presidential term, which begins after the FIA elections in December.