MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. Major changes in the policy of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) with regard to Russia should not be expected after a new president of the global sports federation is elected, two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time NHL Stanley Cup champion Vyacheslav Fetisov told TASS on Wednesday.

The semi-annual IIHF Congress is set to elect the organization’s new leadership when it convenes in Tenerife, Spain, from September 30 to October 2. Nine candidates are running for IIHF president, including incumbent vice-presidents Petr Briza (the Czech Republic), Henrik Bach Nielsen (Denmark) and Aivaz Omorkanov (Kyrgyzstan), who, according to TASS earlier reports, advocated for easing sanctions against Russia.

"Can you even imagine that in this situation, a representative from Kyrgyzstan becomes the president of the IIHF? Miracles do happen, but I wouldn't count on it," Fetisov stated.

"At least, I do not expect anything new or radical from whoever becomes [the IIHF] president. Important issues are always resolved collectively and it is perfectly clear today what kind of policy has been adopted towards Russia," he added.

In February 2022, the IIHF suspended Russia and Belarus from participation in international competitions over the developments in Ukraine.

The Russian national ice hockey teams were also barred from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy and IIHF President Luc Tardif told TASS in 2025 that the decision was made by the IOC and the IIHF had no say in this.

On July 30, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced a decision to extend Russia’s suspension from international tournaments until 2027. The IIHF stated that: "Following the IIHF Disciplinary Board Decision, the IIHF Council re-analyzed the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s request that it be permitted to enter a Russian Team in each of the following IIHF Championships: IIHF Men’s World Championship 2027; IIHF Women’s World Championship 2027; IIHF World Junior Championship 2027; IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship 202; and IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship 2027."

In early September, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RHF) filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne against the IIHF decision to extend the suspension of Russian national teams.