In June 2024, Telegram channels and media spread reports about a political banner at one of the matches of the Ukrainian football team, calling for elections in the country. We have verified the accuracy of this news.
Photos of the national flag of Ukraine with the inscription in English “Give us back the elections,” hung on the stadium podium, appeared on June 21. It was alleged that such a banner was seen at the Slovakia-Ukraine match as part of the European Football Championship. This was reported, in particular, by “Kommersant", "Sport Express", "Gazeta.ru" And "Komsomolskaya Pravda" Telegram channels also spoke about the flag with a political slogan “Mash"(971,000 views at the time of writing this analysis), "Live broadcast • news"(730,000), "RIA Novosti"(675,000), Readovka (440,000) and "Solovyov"(202,000).
The group stage match of the European Football Championship between Slovakia and Ukraine took place in Dusseldorf, Germany on June 21. To establish whether a flag with a political slogan was hung in the stands, “Verified” turned to the recording of the match broadcast. The flag is captured for the first time before the game even begins, during the playing of the national anthems (although only the English words “give us” can be heard).
During the referee’s communication with the team captains, it becomes clear that the flag is hung almost in the center of the field.
Already in the first minute of the match, the entire flag appears in the frame: “Give us elections” is written on it, that is, “Give us back the elections.”
The flag came into frame every time the ball was in the middle of the field. However, by the 26th minute of the match he was no longer there: apparently, either the spectators themselves or the stadium workers removed the banner with a political slogan.
Presidential elections were to be held in Ukraine in 2024. However, due to the Russian full-scale invasion, the country's authorities decided not to carry them out. citing on the military situation and difficulties in organizing voting among military personnel and refugees. At the end of 2023, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky statedthat in such a situation it is untimely to discuss elections. Russian propaganda then began to push the topic of Zelensky’s illegitimacy. Russian President Vladimir Putin statedthat after May 20, 2024 (exactly five years after Zelensky’s tenure as head of state), the only legitimate authority in Ukraine remains the Verkhovna Rada. However, Ukrainian lawyers and the authors of the country’s Constitution assure that this is not so: there are some shortcomings in the basic law, but during martial law elections cannot be held in any case. In the Office of the President of Ukraine convincedthat the topic of Zelensky’s illegitimacy and the need to hold elections at all costs is the result of a Russian information attack.
It was not possible to find out who hung the flag with the inscription “Give us back the elections” at the stadium in Dusseldorf - it could have been either Ukrainian fans who were sincerely worried about this political and legal conflict, or spectators who had nothing to do with Ukraine. In any case, there was such a banner at the European Championship match, and the circulated photographs are true.
Photos in the regionOzhke: screenshot “Checked”
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