Olympic champion in instrumental gymnastics, Russia Angelina Melnikova caused a great stir on social media, after being photographed yesterday during the Victory Day parade in Moscow, with the "Z" emblem supporting the war in Ukraine.
Melnikova, who won the team gold at the Tokyo Olympics, before winning individual bronze medals in ground practice and the multi-fight competition - participated in celebrations marking each year Russia's victory over the Nazis in World War II.
This year, the celebrations were doubled in the form of a rally in favor of war and an opportunity for President Vladimir Putin to justify his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to photos and videos she posted on her Instagram story, Melnikova can be seen holding a red paper with a gilded "Z" - which has become synonymous with Russia's invasion of Ukraine - standing next to an older man in his military uniform.
Angelina Melnikova at the Victory Day parade in Voronezh with the Z symbol in her hands pic.twitter.com/W2leFSJ5qI
- Gymnovosti (@gymnovosti) May 9, 2022
This move, caused a great deal of outrage among her followers who in response posted the Ukrainian flags and sentences like to stop the war and also a demand to punish the gymnast.
Last month, Angelina Melnikova along with Russian gymnast Nikita Nagorny appealed the decision of the Executive Committee of the World Gymnastics Association (FIG) not to allow athletes to participate in FIG competitions (from March 7, 2022 until further notice).
Olympic champion documented Russian Z symbol, Photo: Instagram
The Olympic champion in Tokyo has previously said that Russian gymnasts continue to train in the hope that the situation will improve and stressed that sports and politics should not be mixed.
WORLD ALL AROUND CHAMPION
ANGELINA MELNIKOVA pic.twitter.com/Hf8hgJuXcm
- sandra 🇷🇸 (@fridolinisme) October 21, 2021
The gymnast is far from being the first Russian athlete to publicly support Russia's invasion of Ukraine since the beginning of the war, including gymnast Ivan Kuliak, who wore a "Z" shirt on the podium at the World Cup in Qatar and Olympic runner-up Dina Avrina during a rally at the LuĹľnice Stadium.
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