“You cannot fall for this blackmail and manipulation.” Zheleznyakov on the IOC statement on the possible admission of Russians to the competition

Group choreographer Eteri Tutberidze Alexey Zheleznyakov, in a conversation with , said that the statement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the possible admission of Russian athletes who did not come out in favor of the SVO is a blackmail that cannot be exercised.

The IOC announced on Wednesday that it would consider admitting to international competitions neutral Russian and Belarusian athletes who do not actively support the Special Military Operation (SVO). The participants of the executive committee meeting confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to participate in the competitions in a neutral status if they “fully respect the Olympic Charter”.

– I am a patriot of my country and I think our government is doing everything right, this is my personal opinion. Sergei Bodrov said that if your country is in hostilities, you should be on its side. You cannot be guided by this history and subscribe to purely political stories and issues, here everyone should have a clear position. It’s blackmail, manipulation, they once again mix sport with politics, politics with religion. There have been many wars in the history of the world, but Europeans and Americans have never received an ultimatum. We have to decide whether we are with our country or not. Otherwise, no one is holding anyone, you can leave, change nationality, play for another country, Zheleznyakov told .