A Russian driver performs a fascist salute during a karting race in Portugal

Artem Severyukhin, running under the Italian flag, gave the fascist salute on the podium while the national anthem was heard.

The first race of the European Karting Championship in the OK-Junior class (ages 11-15) ended with a controversial signal from the winner. Russia’s Artem Severyukhin was the big winner in Portimão on Sunday and gave a fascist salute on the podium while the Italian anthem was heard.

Preventing the young pilot from participating in the colors of Russia, he ran under the Italian flag and delivered the Roman salute, a fascist gesture used during the Benito Mussolini regime. After this gesture, Artem Severiukhin began to laugh, not respecting “Il Canto degli Italiani” at any time.