CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (August 21) -- United World Wrestling confirms that Mikhail MAMIASHVILI has stepped down as Vice President of UWW, effective immediately, an action encouraged by the majority of the UWW Bureau.
Mamiashvili, who also serves as President of the Russian Wrestling Federation, was listed by the European Union under its Ukraine-related sanctions regime, and accepted his peers' request to step down in light of the resulting ramifications for the Federation.
The decision follows a period of increasing operational disruption for the Federation. In recent weeks, UWW's PayPal account was closed without prior warning.
UWW also relies on a range of digital service providers to operate its platforms, including UWW+, the UWW mobile application, the Athena platform, and uww.org. The Federation is being cautious about how similar considerations could affect these services.
UWW notes that it is not alone in confronting this challenge. Earlier in 2026, Arkady Dvorkovich stepped back from his role as President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) after being placed under European Union sanctions, stating that he did not wish to "pose risks to the organization."
Mamiashvili's decision follows the same principle: safeguarding the financial stability and operational continuity of UWW and the athletes, National Federations, and partners who depend on it.
Mamiashvili's acceptance of the Bureau's request reflects an understanding of the risks his status posed to the Federation. The vacancy in the Vice President role will be addressed in accordance with UWW's Statutes. The Federation continues to operate as normal, and its banking and payment arrangements remain sound and well managed with its partners.
