Account handed over for 24 hours
Lesser fights for Ukraine with Instagram trick
03/05/2022, 18:04
Erik Lesser is popular in Russia. Also because he helped out a Russian biathlete in an emergency in January. Now he’s using his popularity to spread the news in Russia about the attack on Ukraine. His account is controlled by a Ukrainian biathlete for 24 hours.
In view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, biathlete Erik Lesser has given up his Instagram account to Ukrainian biathlete Anastasiya Merkushyna for 24 hours. “I found that I have 30,000 followers from Russia on Instagram. I don’t think the Russian people really understand what’s going on in Ukraine,” Lesser said after finishing 12th in the Kontiolahti sprint on ZDF.
Lesser, who will end his career after the end of the season and wants to work as a coach in the future, has given “a lot of thought” to what he can do personally in the past few days. “At home we pack up a few things that come to Ukraine. Medicines, diapers, hygiene items,” said the 33-year-old Thuringian.
Lesser has more than 117,000 followers on Instagram, many of them from Russia. “My intention was to use my reach to get more people in Russia real news,” explained Lesser: “If I post anything now, no one will believe me. But if a Ukrainian does it, it’s pretty decent. ” Lesser hopes to get “two or three others” to report from Ukraine. “These are sad times, I hope it will bring something,” said the sports soldier. He was also “not so many” unfollowed. In Russia, the double world champion from 2015 enjoys great sympathy – due to a noble gesture.
After the Russian top performer Eduard Latipow tested positive for Corona before the World Cup in Oberhof in January, Lesser helped his rival who was stuck in the hotel room. The resident of Oberhof provided a roller, a racing bike, shoes and trousers and received thousands of thank-you messages from Russia.