Russian Kart Driver Artem Severiukhin Denies Nazi Salute

Fifteen-year-old Russian karting driver Artem Severiukhin has denied making a Nazi salute Sunday on the podium after winning his event at the FIA Karting European Championship in Portimão, Portugal.

Video footage suggests otherwise, though. Online footage shows the kid hitting his chest and then holding his right arm out as the Italian national anthem played. Laughter with people off camera ensued.

Severiukhin was competing under an Italian license after FIA banned drivers from racing under the Russian flag after the Ukraine invasion.

“It is not true, I have never supported Nazis,” he said and added that the laughter was just him celebrating. “I consider it one of the worst crimes against humanity.

“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.”

FIA says it has opened an investigation and would “communicate shortly on the further steps that will be taken in this case.”

Russian athletes have repeatedly been taken to task for appearing to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s war in Ukraine.