Outraged Russian tennis star denounces ‘Nazism’ after being barred from boarding Polish plane and forced to ‘sleep on sofas’ at Cairo airport over Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

A glamorous Russian tennis player has denounced “Nazism” after being denied boarding on a Polish plane and forced to sleep on sofas at Cairo airport.

Poland’s flagship LOT confirmed on Tuesday that it did not allow Vitalia Diatchenko to board, citing restrictions imposed by Poland’s interior ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic and updated in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Diatchenko was traveling from Cairo via Warsaw and Nice to a tournament in Corsica and wanted to change trains in Poland.

But the 32-year-old was told she could not board because she was Russian.

Diatchenko said she then tried to buy a ticket from Lufthansa but was told she could only enter the Schengen area via Spain because Spain had issued her visa.

Pictured: Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia in action against Katie Volynets of the USA in qualifying during the Viking Classic Birmingham at Edgbaston Priory Club on 12 June 2021

Vitalia Diatchenko took to social media to express her anger over the incident

As a result of the ordeal, Diatchenko was forced to spend hours at Cairo airport without food or shelter, sleeping on sofas.

“The provisions of the regulation introduce restrictions for citizens of the Russian Federation traveling from outside the Schengen area at certain border crossings, including airport crossings,” LOT said in an emailed statement.

A spokesperson for Warsaw Airport said: “We were able to limit boarding to a citizen of the Russian Federation in accordance with a decree of the Minister of Internal Affairs dated 13 March. , for Russian citizens.’

On Instagram Stories, Diatchenko, currently 250th in the WTA rankings, wrote: “I was refused by Lott Airlines to fly to a tournament in Corsica, Cairo-Warsaw-Nice because I am a Russian passport holder. Airline rules – Suddenly a Russian is no longer allowed to fly with Lott Airlines!

‘Does it really help to improve the peace situation???. I had all the letters of support from WTA, ITF, but in modern tennis it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I received letters of support from my father who was originally born in Ukraine and works for the United Nations. This letter says that I am his daughter (airline policy allows family members of people with diplomatic passports to fly) but all airlines now suddenly refuse these documents because of your country of birth.’

She continued: “When I went to Europe as a Russian citizen, I only got 14 days! Visa (usually as an athlete I get 2/3 years). This visa also had to go through Spain as they were the only country that would issue this visa.

“That’s why I have to fly through Spain, so other borders, like the one for my tournament, won’t let me fly except through Spain. In reality this means four flights instead of two! End of the story, slept at the airport, treated like a third class citizen, spent a few thousand euros, now no way to make the tournament, since no route due to airlines that do not carry Russians and the limited visa situation.

In the photo: Vitalia Diatchenko during shooting practice. On Instagram Stories, she wrote: “Is this really helping to improve the situation for peace???” I had all the letters of support from WTA, ITF, but in modern tennis it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

In the photo: Vitalia Diatchenko. As a result of the ordeal, Diatchenko was forced to spend hours at Cairo airport without food or shelter, sleeping on sofas.

On Instagram Stories, Diatchenko (pictured) wrote: “I had letters of support from my father who was originally born in Ukraine and works for the United Nations. This letter says I am his daughter (airline policy allows family members of people with diplomatic passports to fly) but all airlines now suddenly refuse these documents because of your country of birth.

On Instagram Stories, Diatchenko wrote: “I was refused by Lott Airlines to fly Cairo-Warsaw-Nice to a tournament in Corsica because I am a Russian passport holder. Airline rules – suddenly a Russian can’t fly with Lott Airlines!’

Diatchenko (pictured) wrote: “When I went to Europe as a Russian citizen, I had only 14 days! Visa (usually as an athlete I get 2/3 years). This visa also had to go through Spain as they were the only country that would issue this visa.

Diatchenko, who is currently ranked 250th in the WTA rankings, is pictured on a tennis court.

“In the end I have to resign and the only option is to go back home and miss another opportunity because of this situation. When a professional athlete, playing without a flag and representing no country, is just trying to get on with life and pursue a career that I have loved all my life, it is fair to athletes who have no part of the unfortunate situation don’t share did.

“I hope to be free from politics, racism and Nazism. Quiet and clear skies please!’

The incident sparked angry reactions on social media.

The European Union banned all flights from Russia and agreed to limit the issuance of Schengen zone visas for free travel. In September, Finland, along with the Baltic States and Poland, will close its borders to Russian tourists.

Unlike many other sports, tennis did not impose a blanket ban on players from Russia and its ally Belarus after they invaded Ukraine.

Wimbledon last year banned players from the two countries after the invasion, which Moscow described as a “special military operation”, but said in March it would now accept them as neutral athletes.

Russian and Belarusian players competed as neutral athletes in the tours and in the other Grand Slams.

In the photo: Vitalia Diatchenko. “I slept at the airport, was treated like a third-class citizen (because of my nationality), spent several thousand euros,” Diatchenko wrote.

Diatchenko (pictured) wrote: “When a professional athlete playing without a flag and representing no country is just trying to get on with life and pursue a career that I have loved all my life, it is fair to athletes who nothing to do with that part of the unfortunate situation”