Fans were banned from bringing the flag of the Russian Federation to the stands of the Australian Open after a complaint from the ambassador of Ukraine
The Australian Tennis Federation (Tennis Australia) banned fans from bringing Russian and Belarusian flags to the stands of the Australian Open due to complaints from Ukrainian spectators. It is reported by Reuters.
The organizers of the Australian Open recalled that initially fans from Russia and Belarus could bring flags, but they were forbidden to wave them so as not to interfere with other spectators. “From today, the Russian and Belarusian flags will be completely banned from the Australian Open,” the organization said in a statement. It is specified that the decision has already entered into force.
According to the agency, the basis for such a decision was, among other things, a complaint from Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasily Miroshnichenko. Earlier, he was outraged that during the match of the first round of the Australian Open tennis championship between Ukrainian Katerina Beindl and Russian Kamilla Rakhimova, there was a fan with the flag of Russia on the spectator stand. The Ukrainian diplomat also demanded not to allow the Russians to the tournament, but the organizers of the Australian Open refused to remove tennis players from Russia.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special military operation in the Donbass. After that, many Western countries reacted to this with harsh sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities. In addition, several dozen Western companies have left the Russian market.
Source: Lenta
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