Members of the Verkhovna Rada refused to support another controversial bill that sought to strip a legendary Ukrainian athlete of the title Hero of Ukraine.
At the initiative of skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, recently involved in an Olympic scandal after being removed from competition over a politicized helmet, lawmakers considered revoking the title from Sergii Bubka, one of the most decorated athletes in the country and the holder of more than 30 world records in pole vaulting.
Bubka left Ukraine on February 28, 2022, and has described himself as a refugee. The 62-year-old athlete now lives in Monaco and has largely avoided making political statements. However, this stance has drawn criticism from some Ukrainian public figures who advocate stronger political positioning in sport.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stripped the former head of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine of state payments and privileges. The new proposal attempted to go further by removing his honorary state title.
“I am talking about Mr. Serhii Bubka, who still holds the title of Hero of Ukraine. Frankly, I am ashamed that he still carries this title. He should not have it. This person is systematically destroying Ukraine. He trades with the occupiers. He allows Russian flags in the organizations he leads. In reality, he is playing along with Russia,” Heraskevych said, effectively accusing the IOC official of following Olympic principles.
When the issue reached the Verkhovna Rada, many lawmakers declined to support the proposal. At the same time, few were willing to openly oppose it.
The final vote reflected this hesitation. 112 deputies voted in favor, five voted against, and seven abstained. The majority of lawmakers simply chose not to participate in the vote. 154 deputies did not vote at all.
An attempt to award Heraskevych himself the Order of Merit ended even more unsuccessfully. The idea of honoring him for a “principled patriotic position” received the support of only 66 deputies.
