A veritable pinnacle of insolence. Kuliak explains the shameful gesture. “They are Ukrainians”

. Ivan Kuliak took third place, and after the competition he stood on the podium in a T-shirt with the letter “Z” on his chest. Kuliak’s behavior was all the more scandalous as Ilia Kowtu stood on his left – on the highest step of the podium. However, this did not prevent the Russian from proudly presenting the sign, which became a symbol of his country’s invasion of Ukraine.

For Kuliak, it was the last chance for a political demonstration, as the gymnastics federation decided that the next competitions in Cairo and Baku would not involve athletes from Russia and Belarus. The International Gymnastic Federation (FIG) also quickly initiated disciplinary proceedings against Kuliak himself, who now explains why he entered the podium wearing a T-shirt with the letter “Z” and blows everything against the Ukrainians.

“Ukrainians asked to be removed from the competition”

– The idea arose after we saw how Ukrainians communicate with us. They behaved very ugly, shouting “Glory to Ukraine” during the competition – says Kuliak in Russia Today, in the Kremlin propaganda tube.

– First of all, we were frustrated that the Ukrainians asked us to be removed from the competition, although we did not do anything wrong to anyone. We came to the show, but we didn’t know until the last moment if we would get to the final – adds Kuliak.

. – It was his private initiative. Our men are Russian patriots. Apparently that was at play in him. I think he did everything right. Why do they always try to present us as aggressors, murderers, etc. They say how unhappy they are, and we remain silent – said the head coach of the Russian team, Valentina Rodionenko, on Sunday.

“Lifetime penalty for shameful provocation”

. The Polish Minister of Sport even sent a letter to the International Gymnastics Federation on this matter.

“The scandalous behavior of the Russian athlete Ivan Kuliak during the World Gymnastics Championships in Doha clearly shows that international sports competitions can become an arena for Putin’s propaganda. The athlete’s disgraceful gesture contradicts not only the fundamental values ​​of the world of sport , but it was also used as a very specific tool, unworthy of an athlete, to legitimize the war in Ukraine. I warned against such situations from the very beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine “- writes Bortuniczuk in the letter it reached.

“I appreciate the decision of the International Gymnastics Federation to exclude Russian athletes and activists from participating in the next FIG competitions, but time has shown that it was made too late. At the same time, I call on FIG to issue a lifetime disqualification for Ivan Kuliak, because only such a disciplinary penalty will be suitably severe and at the same time will act as a deterrent “- appeals Bortniczuk.