Experts have ruled out any similarity to the Nazi salute in the gesture of a disabled teenager from Krasnodar

The gesture made by a 15-year-old teenager after scoring a goal during a sledge hockey match was a "victory gesture" and significantly different from a "Nazi salute," according to an expert analysis. The experts' findings have been presented to the disqualification committee.

 As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," the family of a 15-year-old disabled athlete from Krasnodar filed a complaint against the decision to disqualify the teenager until the end of the third round of the Russian sledge hockey championship for a gesture "resembling a Nazi salute." The family claims the young man simply waved to someone in the stands and has commissioned an independent analysis of the match video. The teenager has become the target of online harassment.

The family of a 15-year-old disabled hockey player from Krasnodar, previously accused of demonstrating a "Nazi salute," received an independent examination conducted by specialists from the Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization "Regional Scientific Research Center for Forensic Examinations" (ANO "RNICSE"), director Vitaly Pikalov. 

 The organization's director  , Vitaly Pikalov , and expert  Albina Abdul agreed that the submitted photos and videos, as well as the original supplementary materials about the teenager himself and his real and virtual life on social media, do not and cannot contain a "Nazi salute." According to the teenager's relatives, "a 44-page expert report was sent today to the committee reviewing the appeal against the disqualification decision" ( a copy of the report, along with a photo of the "gesture," is in the possession of the "Caucasian Knot" ).

According to expert opinion, the teenager's gesture, recorded 14 minutes into the second match of the first game day of the third round of the 2025–2026 Russian Sledge Hockey Championship (League of Heroes), was a variation of the "victory gesture" and did not contain any signs of threat, pressure, intimidation, or other negative intent. The researchers emphasized that the gesture differs significantly from the Nazi salute, specifically in the placement of the right hand on the left side of the chest and the position of the thumb, which points to the left.

"This conclusion effectively overturns the previously issued disqualification decision. You can't take another person's gestures lightly, especially in sports. The Russian Scientific Research Center for Forensic Expertise's assessment is authoritative and detailed: it took into account all the circumstances of the match, video footage, the athlete's previous gestures, and their context," Oleg Belov, a lawyer unconnected with the case, explained to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent .

We've already been informed that the disqualification committee has reviewed the expert assessment. And no one is using the phrase "Nazi salute" anymore, only "victory gesture."

The teenager's relatives noted the scale and thoroughness of the study.

"There are 44 pages of expert analysis. Family, school, social media, sports, friends—all of this was examined. The gesture is broken down into second-by-second movements and presented in color. The experts are true professionals, and we are happy that they agreed to take on our case," Zinaida Sergeevna, a relative of the athlete, told a "Caucasian Knot " correspondent .

"We submitted the expert report today, but we've already been informed that the disqualification committee has reviewed it. And no one is using the phrase 'Nazi salute' anymore, only 'victory gesture.' We were told that a final decision based on the submitted expert report will be made officially later, but the expert report shows that the previous decision is unfounded," another relative of the teenager, Evgenia Vasilyevna , told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent .

The disciplinary decision must be overturned and further charges against the minor are inadmissible.

"In legal practice, it's impossible to recognize a subject's actions as a violation without clear evidence. The Russian Scientific Research Center for Forensic Expertise (RSIC)'s assessment confirms that there is no confusing similarity to the Nazi salute. This means that the disciplinary decision must be overturned, and further charges against the minor are unacceptable," explained Oleg Belov .

The expert's findings indicate that "the disqualification decision demonstrates an incorrect interpretation of the teenager's gesture," the lawyer stated. "The commission's decision must now take into account the scientific opinion of authoritative experts and the protection of the minor athlete's rights," he said.