"Wooden toilets": Russian minister boasted of his country's greatness and became a laughingstock

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin, while commenting on the change of citizenship by Russian athletes, said that such transitions are not popular, which indicates "commitment in the country." The official is confident that such statistics confirm that they are "citizens of our great country."

"They are responsible for the contribution and the attention given by the president and the government of the Russian Federation. They are responsible to their coaches, who gave them their way in life and who did everything to make them become professional athletes," TASS quoted Matytsin as saying.

This statement provoked a wave of memes among the fans.

"I wonder what is the greatness of his country. 12 thousand rubles pension or asking for donation for ill children online? Maybe it is Lada Granta or the new Chinese Moskvich? No, it is definitely wooden toilets on the streets. In a great country, people like him would have been jailed long ago," fans say.

Users remind the official about Isinbayeva, who left for Tenerife.

"Major of the Russian Armed Forces Isinbayeva, who left for Spain for good, confirmed your words about patriotism," they wrote in the comments.

Matytsin is accused of lying and propaganda.

We remind that after the events of February 24 last year, there is a mass exodus of athletes in Russia. For example, the famous Russian swimmer Anastasia Kirpichnikova decided to also play for the French national team.

Sofya Prosvirnova, a four-time world championship medalist and five-time European short track speed skating champion, has also refused to compete for Russia. The 25-year-old decided that she would compete under the Danish flag.

Prior to that, Russian former world champion in the first heavyweight division Murat Gassiev was granted Armenian citizenship.

Earlier it became known that the two-time winner of the world championship in biathlon among young men and juniors Viktor Plitsev received sports citizenship of Northern Macedonia.

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