Russian athletes, some who were banned from the Rio Olympics for doping violations, visited a Russian airbase in Syria to plant trees and workout in a high-profile propaganda trip.
The delegation included Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time gold track and field Olympic gold medalist who was banned from the Rio Olympics. Isinbayeva was pictured leading a workout for Russian soldiers on the base. Sputnik International News, a Russian propaganda outlet, produced a bizarre video showcasing the Russian athlete’s visit to the base.
Soslan Ramonov, an Olympic wrestler, told reporters “I’ve planted a tree for the first time in my life, hopefully not the last time.”
WATCH:
The delegation and video are likely a high-profile propaganda effort by Russian President Vladimir Putin to shore up domestic support for his ongoing military intervention in Syria.
Russia continues to militarily support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, against rebel opposition. Isinbayeva triumphantly touted the Russian mission saying, “Every time a fighter jet took off, it was like a lullaby we had been waiting for to put us to sleep.”
“The Russian regime has terrorized and massacred the Syrian people and surpassed the extremist group ISIS,” A recent report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed. Russia has framed its intervention in Syria, as a move to combat terrorism, but labels any group that opposes Assad as “terrorist.”
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