From Maia Mikhaluk in Kyiv (520th day): Our big Victory over ruzzia consists of thousands, if not millions of personal Victories. Here is an example.
Facebook newsfeed of Ukrainians yesterday and today is filled with posts about Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan who has been disqualified from the World Fencing Championships in Milan.
Kharlan defeated ruzzia’s Anna Smirnova 15:7 at the start of the tournament. After the match, she refused to shake Smirnova’s hand, offering to bump sabres. Not getting a response, Kharlan left the track.
Smirnova remained on the track for an hour, protesting Kharlan’s decision and demanding her disqualification by paragraph 4.6 of the Fencing Federation regulations – for “showing disrespect.”
Notably, ruzziian businessman Alisher Usmanov has been International Fencing Federation President since 2008 and only stepped down on March 1, 2022 after the European Union imposed economic sanctions on him over ruzzia’s invasion of Ukraine. Obviously, he still has influence.
Sports bureaucrats keep insisting that sport is beyond politics and for that reason, ruzzian athletes should be allowed to compete in international competitions. The true reason is that sport is all about money and ruzzians are investing both in sports and into bribing sports officials. Decisions about disqualification of Ukrainian athletes for “disrespect” to ruzzian athletes shows that money rules over human decency, empathy, and even common sense!
Ruzzian athlete, arrogantly demanding disqualification of Ukrainian fencer, demonstrated why she was not worth shaking hands with – it was pure manipulation and spitefulness of a loser! Moreover, Ukrainian side warned ahead of time that we would not be shaking hands with ruzzians. So Smirnova’s actions had been planned. In true ruzzian style, when they can’t win honestly, they use any indecent means to reach their goal (in war, that includes targeting civilians by massive missile strikes; in sports, they also have many dirty tricks, including state-sponsored doping.)
Ruzzia keeps destroying our cities, infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and churches, kidnapping our children, and killing our people, including many professional athletes. Why representatives of a terrorist state are allowed even to participate in international competitions, much less demand a show of respect from Ukrainian athletes?!
Olga Kharlan, the Ukrainian fencer, chose not to trade dignity for a medal. This is a true victory of dignity and patriotism that is appreciated and valued by Ukrainians. We are proud of Olga Kharlan!
Voice of Ukraine 