Emin Sefershaev detained by police and will miss the 2025 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships

United World Wrestling (UWW) has officially filed a protest against the decision of the Croatian authorities, who barred Russian Greco-Roman wrestler Emin Sefershaev from participating in the World Championships in Zagreb. This was reported by the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR).

Initially, Sefershaev was included in the Russian national team, received accreditation, checked into a hotel, and began preparing for the competition. However, police unexpectedly arrived at the hotel and detained the athlete. Despite the fact that his visa had been issued on August 27, the Croatian authorities revoked it, effectively depriving the wrestler of legal protection.

According to the FSBR, Sefershaev was taken to a police station and was to be transferred to a refugee camp in the town of Ježov for subsequent deportation. For seven hours, the athlete had no access to his coaches or team representatives. Present at the scene were the Russian consul, a lawyer, FSBR president Mikhail Mamiashvili, and European Wrestling Federation executive board member Georgy Bryusov.

The situation was resolved only thanks to the intervention of UWW president and IOC member Nenad Lalović, who personally arrived at the station together with Croatian Wrestling Federation president Vladimir Bregović. It was ultimately decided to hand Sefershaev over to the Serbian side. Under the escort of police and diplomats, he was taken to the Serbian border, from where he traveled to Belgrade and then returned to Russia. The transportation cost amounted to 232 euros.

The FSBR stressed that such an incident has never before occurred at a Wrestling World Championship.

Emin Sefershaev is a two-time European champion and a World Championship medalist. He competes in the 55 kg weight category. In the same category, Armenia is represented by Manvel Khachatryan.

Sefershaev and Khachatryan faced each other at the 2024 World Championships in a bronze medal match, where the Russian wrestler won 7:5.