Russia says legendary champion who fled to Spain "must pay off"

Four-time Olympic champion Alexander Tikhonov made fun of legendary pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva's words about the nominal nature of her officer rank. The former biathlete criticized his compatriot for fleeing to Spain and added that she "should pay everything off" because Russia allegedly gave her opportunities to win numerous awards.

Tikhonov said this in a comment to the propaganda news agency R-Sport. He noted that the holder of 28 world records is obliged to "proudly wear the title of major" of the army of the aggressor country, which unleashed a criminal war against Ukraine.

"Isinbayeva is first and foremost a Russian citizen and everything should be clearly spelled out in our laws. How can a military rank be nominal? I am a retired lieutenant colonel of the Soviet Army. And I am proud to be a lieutenant colonel. I'm not ashamed. I disagree with her, the title of major should be worn with pride, especially when representing CSKA, the most prestigious club in the Soviet Union and to this day. Isinbayeva should pay everything off, because Russia gave her everything," Tikhonov said.

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

As OBOZREVATEL reported, Dagestan came up with a "terrible punishment" for Elena Isinbayeva, who escaped to Spain, causing meme wave on the network.

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