VILNIUS, 10 August. /TASS/. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda deprived figure skaters Margarita Drobyazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuanian state awards for their performance in Sochi in Tatyana Navka’s Swan Lake show, which they were awarded in 2000. On Wednesday, the head of state told reporters regarding his decision, made on the recommendation of the commission on state awards.
“They crossed out their services to the Lithuanian state by the cynical act of participating in a commercial event in Sochi at a time when the blood of innocent people is shed in Ukraine,” the president said.
Nausėda also noted that it is necessary to revise legislative acts so that the issue of depriving Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship can be discussed. She received it as an exception so that the couple might represent Lithuania at the Olympic Games. In 2000, for services to Lithuania, the skaters were awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Gediminas.
