The International Olympic Committee has allowed a Russian citizen, Anastasia Kucherova, to carry a Team Ukraine placard during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Associated Press reports. This triggered a negative reaction from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A vile decision by the IOC: MFA of Ukraine’s position and demand for an investigation
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhii Tykhyi, stated that the decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to select a Russian citizen to carry the placard with Ukraine’s name is unacceptable:
“This goes beyond any human morality and any principles. Honestly, it is hard even to put into words," he said.
Ukraine is demanding an internal investigation within the IOC to determine who made this decision, considers it a gross violation of the Olympic Charter and the principles of international sport, and is calling for an official apology.
The volunteer’s personal story and the public effect
Anastasia Kucherova has lived in Milan for over 14 years and, according to her, has not visited Russia since 2018.
During the ceremony, she tried to remain unrecognizable (a long silver down jacket and dark glasses). Initially, placard assignments were planned to be random, but later, volunteers were allowed to express preferences — Kucherova chose Ukraine.
In an interview with AP, she told the journalists that she tried to make a "small gesture" to show that not everyone in Russia thinks the same about Ukraine.
At the same time, her remarks about a “deep connection” between Russians and Ukrainians that “could have continued if not for the war” sparked additional criticism in Ukraine, given that the country does not want any ties with an aggressor that kills hundreds of Ukrainians every day.
The majority of Russians support Russia’s war against Ukraine. Since the beginning of 2022, there have been no sustained mass protests in Russia against the war, while military recruitment has continued on a voluntary basis.
Russians have committed approximately 190,000 war crimes and killed 644 athletes. Many Russian athletes are taking part in military actions against Ukraine, in a war fought not over territory alone but over Ukraine’s very right to exist as a state.
