International Judo Federation suspends Vladimir Putin as honorary president

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) – Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was suspended as honorary president of the International Judo Federation (IJF) on Sunday, following Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine.

“In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Mr. Vladimir Putin’s status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.

Putin, 69, who has a black belt in judo, was made the IJF’s honorary president in 2008.

He was awarded the eighth dan, one of the highest honors in the sport, by the IJF in 2012.

Putin launched a “special military operation” in Ukraine on Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.

He claimed that Moscow had no plan to occupy its neighbor, but wanted to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Moscow of trying to install a puppet government, vowing that Ukrainians will defend their country against Russian aggression.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​