In the evening of April 26 at the airport "Borispol" denied entry to two Kenyan athletes who flew to Ukraine at the International Marathon, which is to be held in Kharkov on Sunday, April 29.
This was reported by Olympic champion Irina Lishchinskaya, sports director of Run Ukraine - GO "Running Ukraine", which helped the organizers of the Kharkiv marathon LLC "Ukraine Sports Event" with the invitation of foreign athletes.
Leshchinskaya came to Boryspil airport to meet track and field athletes Sereem Kiprop and Bartenge Jemutai, who had all the necessary documents - visas, invitations from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kharkiv Mayor's Office and organizers, who took all the costs associated with the road and stay in Ukraine.
Nevertheless, the senior change of border control Povoroznik decided not to let the guys into the country. Reason for refusal - insufficient funds for staying in Ukraine.
"I came to meet them at the airport. A man came out to me, checked if they were met. He asked who I was, scanned my passport, took my business card and left. Later came back and said wait. I waited for several hours, and then I get a call from some man - a passenger who was passing by the athletes, and they asked him to call me. They have discharged phones. He said that the athletes were given a piece of paper that they were denied entry to Ukraine and tomorrow they are deported because they do not have enough money to stay in Ukraine, "complains Irina.
According to her, she tried to get a conversation with the senior shift, but he did not come out. And what's more, Irina noted, it turned out that Povoroznik kept silent about this problem before his leadership.
On the hotline of the State Border Service could not help. Only reported that in the case of issuing a refusal to enter the issue can be resolved only through the court.
Time in the court in this situation, of course, did not remain. Especially, says Irina, you need to imagine how the invited athletes themselves felt in such circumstances - at night, without food and even water.
Then Leshchinskaya described the problem on her Facebook page. This news quickly spread over social networks and caused considerable indignation both among ordinary users and officials.
"In all countries of the world the word" sport "magically transforms any stern border guard into a smiling, maximally accelerating process and desiring fortune. Everywhere athletes - dear and welcome guests. Sport - it's hard work day in and day out to one hour-rush-start! Our country bit by bit collects an international image and then some uncle on the Ukrainian border, which is far from sports and, I think, does not fully understand its responsibilities, destroys everything in one second, "complains Irina Mikhalkhenko.
"They are there, our border guards, completely crazy?" The Kenyans flew in, from those that all the first places in the world's marathons win. I saw one of them win a prize in Warsaw - a new "Volvo". A lot of papers - an invitation, confirmation on the hands, meets our Olympic champion Irina Lishchinskaya, to participate in the Kharkov Marathon. And they are deported, they do not fit the country Ukraine - there are not enough means to stay. Well, not absurd? Here, their citizens will scatter soon, so we are even disgraced before foreign athletes, and before the whole world, "- wrote the deputy of the Dneprovsky Council Vadim Rublevsky.
As a result of joint efforts, the situation was resolved. About 10 am on Friday, April 27, Leshchinskaya reported that the guys finally missed.
"I do not know whose influence affected, because so much resonance has already taken place and already at such high levels, in particular the Ministry and the Prosecutor's Office. The most important thing is that all have united. My phone was torn.
And there someone brought some water and fed them, "Irina.
According to her, such stories are just a disgrace to the world sports community.
"The guys were very depressed, tired, with red eyes, they almost did not sleep. I was ashamed to look them in the eye, "Irina said and expressed her hope to hear an apology from the border guard, who decided not to skip athletes.
After the liberation, Leshchinskaya led the children to the nearest hotel, and after lunch she will airlift to Kharkov.