Russian figure skater Aleksandr Korovin now a Filipino citizen under new law

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a law granting Filipino citizenship to Russian figure skater Aleksandr Sergeyevich Korovin. The new law, Republic Act 12115, was enacted on December 20 as part of the Philippines’ preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

The legislation requires the 30-year-old athlete to take an oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines. Following this, the Bureau of Immigration will issue a certification of naturalization, officially making him a Russian-Filipino figure skater.

Korovin began his career competing for Russia alongside Alisa Efimova but has represented the Philippines since 2021 with Filipina skater Isabella Gamez. The pair transitioned after the Philippine Skating Union secured Korovin’s release from the Figure Skating Federation of Russia. Together, they aim to qualify for the Winter Olympics in the pairs’ skating category.

Korovin and Gamez have already made history as the first pair from Southeast Asia and the Philippines to win an international medal in pairs’ skating. They claimed a silver medal at the Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d’Azur in France and became the first Philippine National Champions for pairs skating in 2022.

Korovin expressed his desire to obtain Filipino citizenship to contribute to the growth of figure skating in the Philippines. Bills supporting his naturalization were introduced in Congress in 2023 and passed in 2024, culminating in the Senate’s final approval earlier this month.