2025 European Kickboxing Championship Cancelled Due to Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes

The European Kickboxing Championship, originally scheduled for June 22–27 in Chișinău under the auspices of the World Kickboxing Federation (WKF), has been officially cancelled. The decision was made by Moldovan authorities amid controversy surrounding the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus. Instead of the adult tournament, a youth competition will be held in the Moldovan capital—without athletes from the aforementioned countries.

Among the registered participants were also Armenian kickboxers.

Moldova’s Ministry of Education and Research issued a strong statement condemning the event, which was supported by the Chișinău City Hall. The ministry emphasized that the tournament was not officially sanctioned and contradicted both national legislation and the country’s democratic values.

According to the ministry, the WKF is not recognized by the International Olympic Committee and has ties with sanctioned entities from Russia. The federation reportedly signed a cooperation agreement with the Russian Kickboxing Federation, allowing Russian athletes to compete under their national flag and anthem, violating international standards.

The ministry also pointed out the presence of controversial figures among the event’s organizers and participants, including Belarusian athlete Dmitry Shakuta, who is under U.S. and Baltic sanctions due to suspected involvement in the killing of activist Raman Bandarenka.

In light of these issues, the ministry demanded termination of the agreement with the organizers and announced that entry to the country will be blocked for individuals deemed a threat to national security. It reaffirmed Moldova’s commitment to European values and warned against similar events in the future.