No extra security despite flag evictions
VICTORIA Police don’t plan on beefing up their presence at Russian Karen Khachanov’s semi-final on Friday after Vladimir Putin’s face was held aloft over the steps leading into Rod Laver Arena.
Police on Wednesday night evicted a group of men who flew a flag featuring Putin’s face on it following Novak Djokovic’s quarterfinal win over Russian Andrey Rublev.
The group appeared to flout Tennis Australia’s ban on Russian flags by sneaking it past security under the guise of similarly coloured Serbian flags that surrounded them.
In a statement, TA said the men revealed flags and threatened
security after they left the arena. A man was spotted in the arena wearing a T-shirt featuring the “Z symbol” – the same emblem painted on Russian military vehicles in its war with Ukraine.
Police then intervened to evict the men, a spokeswoman said on Thursday. No charges were laid, police said.
“Police spoke to four men after a Russian flag was produced on the steps at the tennis about 10.20pm on Wednesday 25 January. All four men were evicted,” a Victoria Police statement said.
Police said no extra presence would be required at Khachanov’s match because only a small number of people defied spectator rules on Wednesday night.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, labelled the incident “a disgrace”.
“It’s a full package,” he said on Thursday.
“Among the Serbian flags, there is a Russian flag, Putin, Z-symbol, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic flag.
“It’s such a disgrace.”
It’s the second time Mr Myroshnychenko has slammed the display of Russian flags at the Australian Open. On day one, a group of men attending Ukrainian Kateryna Baindl’s match against Russian Kamilla Rakhimova propped up the red, white and blue flag and were accused by some spectators of taunting the former.
Although Russian and Belarusian players are allowed to compete at the Australian Open, the “neutral flag” policy means a blank square appears next to their names rather than their nation’s colours.