Alexandra Oliynikova: During The Protests In Belarus, Sobolenko Said Lukashenko Was Her President

The Ukrainian tennis player criticized the participation of Russian and Belarusian players in the tour.

Ukrainian tennis player Alexandra Oliynikova (No. 92 WTA) spoke out about Russian and Belarusian players on tour in a commentary for French publication L'Équipe, writes "Tribune".

- It hurts me a lot. It's a huge problem. I find it unacceptable that they have not been suspended like other sports.

Some people want to pretend that we are all just tennis players, but that is not true: many people support their dictators. It's easy to check. These are people with money and influence, using their image to justify aggression against my country.

They have a voice. They are not only silent - many of them support Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin, because of whom explosions are shaking my apartment in Kiev. It's not fair. Because of them my people are suffering.

They finance it, support the propaganda. That is why today civilians - women and children - are dying. This is unacceptable. I feel like I'm around dangerous people - with dangerous beliefs and dangerous actions.

- Who exactly are you talking about?

- For example, the first racket player of the world - Arina Sobolenko. Did you know she signed a letter of support for Lukashenko in 2020? During protests in Belarus, when people were beaten in the streets for demanding democracy, she said Lukashenko was her president.

Russian Diana Schneider received an award from Putin and said she would be happy to receive the distinction from her president.

There are players participating in the Gazprom exhibition tournament in St. Petersburg, a company that is a major sponsor of the war. Daniil Medvedev and many others played there. And at the same time I was woken up by explosions. Do you consider it normal? I - no," Oliynikova said.

Oliynikova earlier wore a T-shirt to the Australian Open press conference with the inscription "I need your help to protect Ukrainian children and women, but I can't talk about it.

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