Australian Open 2023: Fans detained over Russian flag with Vladimir Putin’s face

Ukraine’s ambassador has slammed the Australian Open, after fans were detained for showing off Russian flags featuring Vladimir Putin’s face.

An image of the flag.

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.

An image of the flag.

Police then intervened to evict the men, a spokeswoman said 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.

A man wearing a "Z" T-shirt, the symbol on Russian military vehicles in its Ukraine invasion. Picture: AFP.

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.

This policy did not initially extend to Russian or Belarusian fans, but following a tweet from Mr Myroshnychenko – he called on “Tennis Australia to immediately enforce its ‘neutral flag’ policy” – TA announced it would also ban spectators from showing Russian colours for the tournament’s remainder.

A Melbourne and Olympic Parks official on Thursday said venue authorities had employed “ample security” despite fans flaunting Russian flags slipping through their grasp on Wednesday night.

“The safety and enjoyment of players, fans and staff is our priority, and ample security has, and will continue to be in place, for the duration of the 2023 Australian Open. This includes regular and ongoing liaison with Victoria Police,” a statement said.

“Security will continue to facilitate the removal of banned flags for the remainder of the tournament as per the event policy.”

WATCH: COPS DETAIN FANS WITH RUSSIAN FLAGS FEATURING PUTIN’S FACE

—Julian Linden

Victorian police detained four spectators for questioning at the Australian Open after they unfurled Russian flags featuring Vladimir Putin’s face during the tournament on Wednesday.

The alleged incident happened shortly after Russia’s Andrey Rublev was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the men’s quarter-finals.

Although Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to compete at the first grand slam of the year, there are strict rules around their participation,

They cannot compete as representatives of their countries so are classified as independent neutrals and their supporters are banned from carrying flags or Putin’s Z symbol or chanting pro-Russian songs.

Just took a walk around Melbourne Park after filing and a group of people were standing on the Rod Laver Arena steps, holding up a flag with Vladimir Putin’s face and chanting in support of Russia. pic.twitter.com/2p0LfkyVC3

— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) January 25, 2023

But authorities were forced to act after a Russian flag was spotted in the crowd last week and now the cops have been called in after a second unsavoury incident.

“Four people in the crowd leaving the stadium revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards,” Tennis Australia said in a statement.

“Victoria Police intervened and are continuing to question them.

“The comfort and safety of everyone is our priority and we work closely with security and authorities.”

Djokovic, who has complained to officials about a number of spectators over the past week – spoke to the chair umpire during his match against Rublev, after being annoyed by some comments being made by Russian supporters at Rod Laver Arena.

“If somebody steps over the line and starts making comments that are not related to support of the other player, he just wants to provoke and insult, then stepping over the line is something that I react to,” Djokovic said.

“Maybe not first time, second time, but after that yes. Then I ask the chair umpire to react.

“After that, I heard him, but he was supporting Rublev. He was not making any bad comments till the end of the match, so I didn‘t have any complaints about that further on.”

The issue around Russian flags at the tournament has been heating up and is only getting hotter as the finals start with Russian players in contention for both the men’s and women’s titles.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia called on tennis officials to take action after a Russian flag appeared in the crowd at the Australian Open.

Russia’s embassy hit back at Tennis Australia’s flag ban, calling it “another example of unacceptable politicisation of sports”

Originally published as Australian Open 2023: Fans detained over Russian flag with Vladimir Putin’s face