Russian propaganda continues to use the victories of its athletes in international arenas to justify and promote its aggressive war and genocide. This time, the French authorities and the European Judo Union (EJU) helped it by allowing the Russian Madina Taimazova, who was found to have supported the war against Ukraine, to enter the country and participate in the European Championships.
Taimazova was photographed for Russian propaganda resources against the backdrop of a poster with the letter ‘Z’ (one of the symbols of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) and dictator Putin.
Taimazova also “distinguished herself” by participating in a propaganda event called “a masterclass for young judokas from Donbas”. These were Ukrainian children who had been illegally transferred to the territory of Russia.
As a result, Taimazova won a silver medal at the tournament in Montpellier, France. This achievement was highlighted by Russian propaganda.
Russian schoolchildren: “These victories inspire the fighters of the SMO”
Several schools in North Ossetia (Taimazova’s home region) congratulated the Russian judoka on her award.
The aforementioned photo with Putin and the letters “Z” was used to congratulate Taimazova, and the video part of the congratulations included statements about support for the aggressive war and Putin’s policies.
In the video messages to Taimazova, children expressed support for the “special military operation” (as the Russians call the aggressive war against Ukraine).
In particular, the video from School No 26 (Vladikavkaz) states that “all the victories of our athletes in the international arena motivate not only schoolchildren but also the soldiers of the special military operation. And they help them to believe in themselves”.
A student of School No 6 (Mozdok) stressed that Taimazova’s songs “inspire our defenders in the special military operation”.
Students of School No. 2 (Gizel village) even printed out a photo with Taimazova, Putin and the letter Z as a congratulatory greeting. The video of this school also contains a propaganda thesis that “the success of Russian athletes motivates the fighters of the special military operation and helps them to believe in their strength.
In all of the above videos, children thank dictator Putin for supporting Russian athletes.
Thus, as we can see, Russian propaganda uses even children to advertise the war against Ukraine. And it is assisted in this by international sports organisations that allow Russian supporters of the war to compete.
Who should be thanked this time for helping Russian propaganda?
The initiators and biggest lobbyists for the involvement of Russians and Belarusians in the tournament were the EJU (European Judo Federation), the IJF (International Judo Federation) and the French Judo Federation. The latter, through its head Stéphane Nomis, put pressure on the French government to obtain permission for Russians and Belarusians to participate in the tournament. This is stated in one of the publications on the official website of the EJU.
“It is also the first event where Ukraine and neutral athletes (Russians and Belarusians – ed.) will be competing in together. Tóth (EJU head – ed.) commended Nomis (President of the French Judo Federation – ed.) in his tireless work to make this a possibility for the athletes. As expressed, it was not easy an easy feat, with lengthy discussion with the French government, which accepted the wishes of the IOC and IJF, to demonstrate peace,” the EJU official website said in a news article about the European Championships in France.
The French Minister of Sport, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, made no comment on the scandal surrounding Taimazova’s participation in the European Championships. However, she did devote a lot of attention to the continental forum in Montpellier on her social media.
We can only ask a rhetorical question to Messrs Tóth, Nomis and Amélie Oudéa-Castéra: “Do the above video and photo, with the thanks to Putin and the words that Taimazova’s award gives strength and inspiration to the Russian occupiers, exactly demonstrate peace?”
Цей матеріал опубліковано за підтримки Європейського фонду за демократію (EED). Його зміст не обов’язково відображає офіційну позицію EED. Інформація чи погляди, висловлені у цьому матеріалі, є виключною відповідальністю його авторів.