Igor Denisov, a former Russia captain, has become one of the most well-known athletes currently living in the country to speak out against the conflict in Ukraine.
Denisov, who played 54 times for Russia between 2008 and 2016, described the invasion as a “catastrophe” and a “total tragedy.”
The former midfielder made the remarks in a YouTube interview with sports writer Nobel Arustamyan.
“Maybe they’ll put me in jail or kill me for these words, but I’m telling it like it is,” said the 38-year-old.
Denisov, who played over 300 games for Zenit St Petersburg before joining Lokomotiv Moscow in 2019, stated he “loved his nation” and didn’t want to leave the country.
He’s also written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing his disapproval to the invasion, which began on February 24th.
“I am a proud guy. This was after three or four days,” Denisov added. “I even said to him that I am ready to go on my knees before you so that he would stop it all.”
Very few public figures still living in Russia have openly opposed the “special military operation”, as Moscow terms it.
However, Nadya Karpova, a striker for the women’s national team who now lives in Spain, has recently spoken out against the war.
Russian media outlets can even be fined or blocked for using the words “war” or “invasion” to describe what is happening in Ukraine.
During Denisov’s interview with Arustamyan, certain words used by him to refer to Russian actions in Ukraine appear to have been blanked out, with a crackling sound played instead.
And while Sports.ru, one of the country’s most prominent sports websites, reported Denisov’s comments, it did not use the words “war” or “invasion”, instead referring to his discussions on “life after 24 February”.
