“No support of the war”
IOC acquits Putin confidant Isinbayeva
7/18/2023, 7:57 p.m
She campaigns for Vladimir Putin and praises the Russian military – but the International Olympic Committee has no problem with Yelena Isinbayeva. After an internal review, the IOC sees no reason to sanction the Russian member of the Athletes’ Commission.
Yelena Isinbayeva is allowed to remain an active member of the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This is the highest body of Olympic athletes. The whereabouts of the former world-class pole vaulter in the IOC Commission had been questioned because the 41-year-old was said to have close ties to Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin. As a result of the Russian war of aggression, which violates international law, the IOC Ethics Committee announced in the spring that it would review the status of Russian members.
The “Mirror” quotes from an IOC report that Isinbayeva passed this test: she neither supports the war in Ukraine nor has a contractual relationship with the military. These are the requirements that athletes and officials must meet. The IOC did not confirm to “Spiegel” that she would resume her work in the Athletes’ Commission – but Isinbayeva wrote on Facebook: “I am happy to announce that I can resume my work for the IOC in September 2023, because the IOC has no doubts has on me.”
Instead, Isinbayeva complained that “false information” was circulating about her. She was “a woman of the world, I always was and will always be” and was not affected by “any sanctions”. However, according to “Spiegel”, Ukraine has the 41-year-old on a sanctions list: as a “representative of the Russian sports sector” who “attempts to use sport in the service of Russian aggression”.
Isinbayeva is said to be in Tenerife
The IOC, under German President Thomas Bach, is currently trying to bring Russian sport back onto the world stage, despite the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. In March, the IOC recommended that world sports federations reintegrate Russian and Belarusian athletes under the conditions of neutrality. An external company is usually responsible for the review, Bach explained. The IOC takes no responsibility for the process.
In her Facebook post, Isinbayeva first emphasized her sporting successes, the numerous world records on the way to the record of 5.06 meters, which has been in force since 2009, the titles at world championships and Olympic Games. What she doesn’t mention is her regular proximity to the autocrat Putin. She is campaigning for him, and he appoints her to a commission together with those loyal to the Kremlin to redesign the Russian constitution according to his ideas. He takes her with him when the 2018 World Cup is awarded to Russia, and Isinbayeva is the mayor of the Olympic Village at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
She gave an example of her support for the Russian military in 2016 when she visited an air force base in Syria. “It was clear to us that we were flying to heroes, to our protectors. Everything here is pervaded by such patriotism. I’m almost bursting with pride,” she said on the occasion. “Each jet takeoff was like a lullaby for us to wait for to fall asleep.” Referring to reports, the “Spiegel” also writes that Isinbayeva led “the militaristic children’s army ‘Junarmiya’, in which children and young people are brought into line with the regime”. According to this, more than one million children and young people between the ages of 8 and 18 should now belong to this group.
Incidentally, the former world-class athlete was recently in the public eye because she is said to be in Spain. According to “El Digital Sur”, she is said to be staying with her husband and children in a luxurious residential complex in Tenerife. On May 30, Isinbayeva traveled legally to Tenerife on board a transport plane from Turkey, the Spanish newspaper “Sport” added.