Gadzhimagomedov was a late call-up for Russia after Georgy Kushitashvili was denied entry to host country Ukraine for the event at the Lokomotyv Sports Palace.

He was one of nine members of the Russian delegation reportedly prevented from entering for "illegally" visiting Crimea.

Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and Ukraine's capital Kyiv has imposed travel bans on numerous Russian politicians and celebrities who have since visited.

Gadzhimagomedov was able to put the circumstances surrounding his appearance in Kharkiv to one side, with the Russian producing a strong performance against Azerbaijan’s Eldar Guliyev.

The Russian was awarded a unanimous points victory over his Azeri opponent to advance to the second round, where he will take on Peter Mullenberg of The Netherlands.

Mullenberg enjoyed a bye through the first round of the competition.

Ireland’s Joe Ward, who beat Mullenberg to the title at the 2015 edition of the Championships, was also able to watch from the sidelines.

The defending champion will take on Slovakia’s Matus Strnisko in the second round, after he won by a split decision 3-2 verdict against France’s Mamadou Diabira.

Reigning 75kg middleweight champion Petr Khamukov of Russia will enter at the second round stage of the competition.

He will take on Edin Avdic after the Austrian clinched a unanimous 5-0 triumph over Serbia’s Ajetovic Geard.

Azerbaijan’s Kamran Shakhsuvarly, the second seed and Rio 2016 bronze medallist, is poised to face Ireland’s Emmet Brennan.

Brennan earned the verdict on three of the judges’ scorecards in his first round clash with Bartosz Golebiewski, with the other two officials deeming the Polish fighter to have won the contest.

Competition in Kharkiv is acting as a qualifier for the World Championships, which are due to be held in German city Hamburg from August 25 to September 3.