Belarusian Natallia Rubashko Declares as Neutral Individual and Returns to Judging

Dressage

Belarus

Belarusian dressage judge Natallia Rubashko has returned to her judging duties as a "Neutral Individual".

Ban of RUS - BLR

The IOC and FEI have banned Russian and Belarusian Athletes and Officials since Russia's invasion and War in Ukraine in February 2022. No horses in Russian or Belarusian ownership are allowed to compete either.

Since the mass protests following the disputed 2020 presidential elections, Belarusian authorities have unleashed a relentless crackdown on dissent. According to Amnesty International, "the systematic use of repressive measures, including arbitrary detentions, torture and other ill-treatment, and effective criminalization of critical speech, paints a bleak picture of the state of human rights in Belarus today."

Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine by allowing Russian Armed Forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory before the invasion and staging a part of the invasion from its territory, giving Russia the shortest possible land route to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv.

Neutral Individuals

In November 2023 the FEI put the door open again for Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses, and Officials To Return to Competition as Neutrals.

Participation criteria include:

Compliance with all FEI Rules and Regulations
No contract with the Russian or Belarusian military or with any other national security agency
No active support for the war in Ukraine; Any form of verbal, non-verbal or written expression, explicit or implicit, at any time since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, in particular public statements, including those made in social media, participation in pro-war demonstrations or events, and the wearing of any symbol in support of the war in Ukraine, for example the "Z" symbol, are considered to be acts of active support for the war in Ukraine.

The FEI has two labels to mark this new status: Neutral Individual 1 and Neutral Individual 2. The number one seems to indicate the person is still residing in the country, number 2 seems to signal the person lives abroad.

Rubashko Returns to Judging

Karasiova (BLR) at the 2018 World Cup Finals

The first Russian judge to return to her duties was 5* judge Irina Maknami, who has been spending much time in the Middle East, judging national shows and educating upcoming officials there. She has declared for Palestine.

The international Level 3 judge Natallia Rubashko has declared herself as a "Neutral Individual" and officiated again at her first CDI in Astana, Kazachstan, on 29 May - 1 June 2025.

"I am back to judging and very happy about this fact," Natallia told Eurodressage. "To receive neutral status was the most optimal for me, taking into account that the NOC and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Belarus do not object against receiving neutral status by athletes and officials with the international category."

When asked why she chose for the Neutral Individual option, Rubashko replied, "as for changing sport nationality, I have not considered and do not consider this option for myself."

Going Neutral

More Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials have embraced this option since 1 February 2024.

At the moment 2 dressage persons are marked under Neutral Individual 1 and 5 dressage persons as Neutral Individual 2. Two Russian riders have been actively competing under the neutral flag.

Daria Suschinskaya (RUS) at the 2024 WCYH

Italian based Russian Grand Prix rider Evgenija Davydova, who trains with Russian born Italian Tatiana Miloserdova, has been showing as a neutral athlete. She competed San Francisco T at the 2024 CDI-W Lipica.

Dutch based Russian Daria Suschinskaya has been competing as a neutral rider at the 2024 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo for her employer, Peter Perlee (NED).

Also declared as neutral but not having shown intenationally in four years is Belarus' number one Grand Prix rider Hanna Karasiova (BLR). Her last CDI start was in Minsk in April 2021 with Zodiak (by Zodane Velvet x Arulis). This horse is still in Belarusian ownership. She did her last CDI with her top horse, the now 19-year old Arlekino (by Aromats x Gudvils), in 2020. In October 2021 he competed at the CDI Minsk with Hanna Anisina (BLR).

Level 3 official Olga Kogan (RUS) and senior manager of international relations for Russia has returned as a national eventing steward under neutral flag.

The majority of the neutral individuals are jumping and endurance riders.

Different Flags

Two Russian dressage riders have declared for Palestine recently - Aleksandra Maksakova and Tatiana Makarova - while Maria Klementieva is now riding for Cyprus, Elena Starr for Armenia, and Anna Guseynova for Israel.

Belarusian Level 2 judge Liudmila Gleb has declared for Israel.