European Union Sanctions against Russia have left two German-trained prize racehorses unable to compete because their owner, Chechnya's Kremlin-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov, is on the EU's blacklist, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Kadyrov, a firm ally of President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned in July for supporting Moscow's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in late-March. The measures freeze Kadyrov's assets in the EU and ban him from traveling there.
With regard to the racehorses, Zazou and Dashing home — which according to the report are household names in the horse racing community — the asset freeze prevents Kadyrov from paying to feed, train and house the horses, the WSJ said. These expenses have fallen on the horses' trainer, German resident Waldemar Hickst.
Moreover, prize money recently won by the horses cannot be collected because of the sanctions.
The seven-year old Zazou has won over $1.3 million dollars during its career, and since July Zazou and the two-year old Dashing Home have competed in several German competitions, raking in tens of thousands of euros in winnings, the report said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.