Senate OKs bill granting PH citizenship to Russian figure skater Aleksandr Korovin

The Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill granting Philippine citizenship to Russian figure skater Aleksandr Sergeyevich Korovin

Senate Bill 2461 was approved with 21 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstention.

The bill naturalizing Korovin as a Filipino is being pushed amid the Philippines' preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.

The Russian national has been the partner of Filipina figure skater Isabella Gamez, who has a goal to qualify for the Winter Olympics in the pairs category with Korovin as soon as they are qualified.

Korovin and Gamez have been competing in various international figure skating competitions since 2021 and they have been carrying the Philippine flag after the Philippine Skating Union (PHSU) formally asked the Russian national's release from the Russian Skating Federation.

"The timing of this approval was strategically pursued to ensure the pair's eligibility to compete at the upcoming Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, this February 2025. We firmly believe that this talented duo has the potential to bring home the Philippines' first-ever medal in the Asian Winter Games," said PHSU president Nikki Cheng. 

"It is high time that the Philippines win a medal in the Winter Olympics, just as how the country won its first gold medal in the Summer Olympics. This dream of success in the Winter Olympics will come to fruition when the Senate gives it full support to Isabella Gamez and her partner, Aleksandr Korovin," Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee chairperson Francis Tolentino said in his explanatory note of SB 2461.—RF, GMA Integrated News