"Caused harm": legendary athlete threatened with criminal case in Russia

A criminal case may be opened against Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva if it is proved that she is an active member of the Russian army. The legendary pole vaulter called her officer's rank nominal, which should serve as a reason for the investigation.

This was stated by State Duma deputy Nikolai Valuev on the propaganda channel Match TV. The former world heavyweight champion called Isinbayeva's statements after she fled to Spain a blow to Russia's reputation, which could be used by Western countries.

"If she is still a servicewoman, then this statement may fall under the article. If she is not on duty, then this is a rejection of the past and a lie. The person who put on the shoulder straps has nominally nothing. She has harmed our athletes with this statement. The West can take advantage of this. This is a very big ideological and reputational blow. Isinbayeva is a member of the Honoured Commission, but in the past she was a military officer. This is the past, it has already happened," Valuev said.

Earlier it became known that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not exclude Isinbayeva from its membership, despite her service in the Russian army and support for dictator Vladimir Putin. For its part, the team of politician Alexei Navalny published a photo of Yelena in Spain against the backdrop of the Ukrainian flag and an investigation into the Olympic champion's real estate in Europe.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Dagestan has invented a "terrible punishment" for Yelena Isinbayeva, who fled to Spain, causing ridicule online.

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