The FIA have called an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Tuesday in response to global fallout in the wake of Russia's war on Ukraine, RacingNews365.com has learned. "An extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council will be convened tomorrow to discuss matters relating to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Further updates will be given following the meeting," a spokesperson confirmed to RacingNews365.com . The Russian Automobile Federation (RAF) is affiliated to the FIA under both the governing body's Sport and Mobility divisions, while the touring organisation Avtoclub Assistance-RUS is a member of only the latter. RAF President Victor Kiryanov is a titular member of the WMSC, having been re-elected in December 2021. Kiryanov, a former high ranking police officer who held the post of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation from 2011 top 2015, is the recipient of numerous state awards, including two orders "For Merit to the Fatherland".
F1, FIA take action amid Russia-Ukraine war
Article 1.2 of the FIA's statutes requires that [the governing body] "shall promote the protection of human rights…and refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities, and from taking any action in this respect." As reported by RacingNews365.com earlier on Monday , recently-elected FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem last week addressed a letter pledging his support to the Ukrainian Automobile Federation, urging their President, Leonid Kostyuchenko, "to contact me for any help you may need." Formula 1 last week suspended the 2022 Russian Grand Prix but stopped short of cancelling the event, while Haas F1 Team - sponsored by the Uralkali group of chemical companies controlled by the father of driver Nikita Mazepin - removed all references to the Russian connection from their cars ahead of the final day's running of F1's pre-season test in Barcelona. Mazepin races under a licence issued by RAF. In December, Ferrari confirmed rising star Robert Shwarzman, who also races under a RAF-issued licence, as one of the team's reserve drivers, while the Scuderia list Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky Labs as a sponsor.
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