Esports in Russia equated to football and hockey
The Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation has transferred esports to the second section of the All-Russian Register, which includes sports developed at the national level: football, hockey and others.
Now in Russia can host national championships in esports, and professional gamers will be assigned ranks and titles.
President of the Russian Esports Federation
Esports was again recognized as an official sport on June 7, 2016. He was excluded from The All-Russian Register of Sports in July 2006 due to non-compliance with certain criteria: it was not developed in more than half of the subjects of the Russian Federation and did not have an all-Russian physical culture and sports association registered in accordance with the established procedure.
Source: Cyber.Sports