CQ has reversed its just-announced policy that it would no longer accept logs for any CQ-sponsored contest from stations in Crimea operating with Russian-issued call signs and is adopting a new policy that is in harmony with ARRL’s DXCC policy. In announcing the shift, CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, cited concerns raised by “a large number of contesters around the world” that CQ was unfairly denying Crimean radio amateurs the opportunity to fully participate in CQ-sponsored contests.

“Since the country list for CQ contests is based on a combination of the Worked All Europe (WAE) and ARRL DXCC lists, and the ARRL has already adopted a policy regarding Crimean stations in its award and contest programs, we will amend our policy to be consistent with the ARRL's DXCC policy,” Ross said.

Ross said that listings of Crimean stations submitting logs for CQ contests will be based upon the call sign under which they operated. “If they used Russian-issued calls in the contest, they will be listed under Russia; if they used Ukrainian-issued calls in the contest, they will be listed under Ukraine,” he said.

Ross said the revised policy “reflects not only the desire of many contesters around the world, but also of a large majority of members of the CQ World Wide DX Contest Committee.”

In its policy announcement of October 17, CQ had said that contacts made in CQ-sponsored contests with Crimean stations using Russian-issued call signs would be removed from contestants’ logs without penalty and with no contact or multiplier credit.

CQ sponsors several major international operating events, including the CQ World Wide SSB and CW contests. The CQ World Wide SSB Contest takes place this year over the October 25-26 weekend.