Russian driver, 15, under investigation, apologizes but denies making Nazi salute atop podium

By Ben Church, CNN

Updated 2001 GMT (0401 HKT) April 11, 2022

Russian karting driver Artem Severiukhin on the podium.

(CNN)Russian karting driver Artem Severiukhin, 15, has denied making a Nazi salute atop a podium on Sunday.

The youngster won his event at the FIA Karting European Championship in Portimão, Portugal, and video footage posted online showed him hitting his chest and holding his right arm out while the Italian national anthem played during the podium ceremony.Severiukhin — who was competing under an Italian license after motorsport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), banned drivers from racing under the Russian flag amid the invasion of Ukraine — then laughed with people from the crowd who were off camera.In a video message sent to CNN by the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF), Severiukhin said he wanted to apologize but said he did not make a Nazi salute.«It is not true, I have never supported Nazis. I consider it one of the worst crimes against humanity,» he said, adding he was celebrating with people in the crowd.Read More«I know I am a fool and I'm ready to be punished but please believe that there was no intention in my actions. There was no support of Nazism or racism.»The FIA confirmed it had opened an immediate investigation into the «unacceptable conduct» and said it would «communicate shortly on the further steps that will be taken in this case.»Ivan Kuliak: Russian gymnast says he has no regrets about wearing 'Z' symbol on podium next to Ukrainian athlete ​-- state mediaThe RAF said it was aware of the incident and stated it considered unacceptable «even an accidental manifestation of fascism and Nazism in Russian motorsport and among Russian athletes.»Severiukhin