Russian 5* Judge Irina Maknami Declares for Palestine

Dressage

Russia

Russian 5* dressage judge Irina Maknami has declared for Palestine and returned to international FEI dressage judging.

Under the Palestine flag, Maknami is currently officiating at the CDI St. Margarethen in Austria. She stepped back into the arena by sitting at C for the Young Riders team test this morning.

Irina Maknami

Irina's judging career started in Moscow in 2009. After being a successful national Grand Prix judge, she passed the FEI 3* Dressage judge exam. In 2013 she became a 4* judge as well as a Judge for Young horse classes. In 2017 she was promoted to 5* level (now called Level 4).

She has officiated at shows such as the European Dressage Championships, two World Cup Finals, two European Under 25 Championships, World Breeding championships for Young Horses, etc.

Maknami was member of the FEI Dressage Committee from 2018 till 2022. She has been a member of the International Dressage Officials Club since 2008. She was a member of the Russian FKSR Board of Judges, from which she resigned last year.

Read more on Irina's life with horses and as a judge here.

Russian Ban

As of March 2022 all Russian athletes and officials have been banned due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the on-going war there.

Maknami kept herself busy and frequently travelled to the Middle east to judge national classes there in the United Arabic Emirates as well as conduct national Judges Maintenance course, particularly in Abu Dhabi.

Several Russians, who feel their careers compromised or who do not support Russia's foreign policy, have changed nationality to continue their lives. Aleksandra Maksakova also declared for Palestine, the Zakhrabekova kids compete for Azerbaijan, Alena Starr has switched to Armenia, Anna Guseynova declared for Israel

Egenija Davydova is the first Russian to declare as a "neutral individual". As of 2024 she is competed under no flag. She trains in Italy with now Italian but Russian born Tatiana Miloserdova.

Interest in the Middle East

Maknami has shifted her attention to the Middle East and adopted a Palestinian passport for more judging flexibility.

"I think that my efforts to help develop dressage in Middle East will be much more effective if I keep up with my maintenance requirements as an international judge," Irina explained to Eurodressage.

She continued, "I spend a lot of time between Middle East and Moscow now. Already over a year I am actively involved in the development of dressage and education of officials in the FEI Group 7 countries: I conduct national seminars for officials, participate in different educational events (like an absolute fantastic and very effective program - FEI Solidarity ESEE), judge many national competitions. I feel that there is an enormous developing potential in Group 7 countries and a big need in experts, who will be willing to work in the region. I want to continue this development work together with the Group 7 Technical Committee and FEI Solidarity."