Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasil Miroshnichenko has asked the Australian Open organizers to veto the father of tennis player Novak Djokovic after he was spotted with fans carrying Russian flags.
For Miroshnichenko, the images broadcast in a video are «unacceptable» and «a disgrace for the tournament», which is why he has asked for a veto for Srdjan Djokovic, the tennis player’s father, as he told the Australian ABC channel.
Djokovic’s father, meanwhile, has claimed that he was inadvertently caught up in a pro-Russian demonstration at the Australian Open, which is why he decided not to attend his son’s semi-final against Tommy Paul.
On Thursday a video appeared on the YouTube channel of a Russian activist showing Srdjan Djokovic standing with a man holding a Russian flag with the face of Russian President Vladimir Putin and wearing a T-shirt with the Z symbol showing support for the war in Ukraine.
In a statement issued by the tennis star’s representatives, Djokovic’s father claimed he had come to the Autralia open only to support his son. «I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruptions,» Srdjan Djokovic asserted, as reported by the DPA agency.
«I was outside with Novak’s fans as I have done after all my son’s matches to celebrate his victories and take pictures with them. I had no intention of getting caught up in this,» he assured, adding that his family has lived through «the horror of war» and only wishes for peace.
«I wish for a great game and I will be cheering for my son, as always,» he added.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
