Putin expels Yelena Isinbayevan from the Russian army, removes the rank of “Major”
The statement by Yelena Isinbayeva, the holder of the world record in the pole vault, who said that her rank of “major of the Russian army” is only nominal, angered everyone in Russia.
Jelena Isinbayeva, 41, lives in Spain in Tenerife with her husband and daughter and has no intention of returning to Russia. It represents that country in the Olympic Games and other international activities.
The Russian People’s Front, an organization that was created in May 2011 at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, plans today to expel Yelena Isinbayeva from membership after her statements. She is a member of this organization since 2018.
Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Jelena Isinbayeva previously announced that she will continue working at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from September.
The IOC Ethics Commission ruled that Isinbayeva noted that she had no contract with the Russian military and that she did not support that country’s Special Military Operation in Ukraine. The athlete herself emphasized that her main rank is “nominal”.
Yelena Isinbayeva received the rank of major of the Russian army personally from Minister Sergei Shoigu. She has been photographed several times in a Russian army uniform with a smile on her face.
