Shocking scene from Portugal: Artyom Severyukhin gives the winning salute at the award ceremony of the European Karting Championship. The apology followed a day later
Russian kart driver Artyom Severyukhin has apologized for showing the Nazi salute at the karting championship in Portugal. A day after his scandalous action, the only 15-year-old regretted his behavior in a public video message shared via the short message service Telegram.
“I would like to apologize to everyone for what happened yesterday. I do not support the Nazis, they are responsible for one of the worst crimes of humanity. The gesture was not meant as a Nazi salute at all,” Severyukhin said in the video message .
investigations initiated
The world automobile association Fia has meanwhile opened an investigation against Severyukhin. The organizer Fia announced on Monday that a decision on the sentence against the 15-year-old should be announced shortly.
On Sunday, after his victory in the European kart racing series in Portimao, Severyukhin hit his chest twice during the national anthem on the podium and then raised his right arm. As a result, the driver burst out laughing.
The young athlete competed under the Italian flag in Portugal because of the sanctions against Russia as a result of the Ukraine war. In its statement, the Fia wrote of “unacceptable behavior”.