A dispute has broken out between two rival Presidents of the Ukrainian body ©UKKF

Two rival Presidents of the Ukrainian Federation of Figure Skating (UFFK) have become embroiled in a legal dispute after the former head accused the other of being elected illegitimately.

Mykhailo Makarov, elected President of the national governing body on August 25, has been accused of "raider seizure" by predecessor Yevhen Larin, who does not recognise the election.

He still considers himself the legitimate President and is still listed in the position on the UFFK website.

Makarov, however, claims not to be worried by the impending court case.

"There was no transferring of cases after the conference," he told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

"We have sent an appeal to Mr. Larin to transmit all available documentation. 

"I do not know, fortunately or not, but the federation doesn’t have tangible assets. 

"I am telling you this so that no one has the impression that there has been some kind of 'raider attack' or other nonsense. 

"Nothing was done in response to the request to transfer some accounting staff, accounts, accounting management, etc. 

"But in the end, it’s not so awful, all can be started from the very beginning."

Yevhen Larin is still listed as President on the Ukrainian Federation of Figure Skating website ©UFFK
Yevhen Larin is still listed as President on the Ukrainian Federation of Figure Skating website ©UFFK

Makarov claimed he has the support of the UKKF membership, as well as the International Skating Union (ISU).

"We have a democratic country and everyone has the right to defend their interests," he added.

"And if the majority federation members came to the conference and voted, then, I think, the truth is on our side. 

"Moreover, a few days ago, the ISU fully recognised our conference and all the changes that have taken place - I do not see any problems today."

He also vowed to introduce a more "open" system in which there are free elections and greater public accountability.

Ukraine has won two Olympic medals in figure skating.

Oksana Baiul claimed the singles gold medal at Lillehammer 1994 and Elena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov took ice dancing bronze 12 years later in Turin.

Their main hope at Pyeongchang 2018 could be ice dancers Oleksandra Nazarova and Maksym Nikitin, bronze medal winners at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Tallinn.

The ISU are due to meet for a Council meeting in Geneva tomorrow.

insidethegames has asked the world governing body if they will discuss the situation in Ukraine.