Russian figure skating news & updates in 2022

[Karen-W]

Because Telegram is so much more respecting of free speech than YT or Facebook

Why right-wing extremists’ favorite new platform is so dangerous

Telegram’s lax content moderation and encrypted chats make it a convenient tool for extremists.

www.vox.com

Honestly, yes, Telegram is. It's very clear that the reason Putin is shutting down access to IG is in retaliation to Meta's decision to allow posts suggesting or advocating violence against Russia, Russians, and Putin on their platforms. Even if it is just allowed in Ukraine, it is still a clear violation of their own "Community Standards" and proves that they are selective in the application of said "Community Standards" despite their many assertions to the contrary over the years. Sure, they're a private company and can do as they please but why should any country in the world stand by and allow said private company to continue operations within its borders when that private company is applying a double standard that calls for violence against that country? Doesn't every country and government have the right to protect its citizens and issue mandates or bans on behavior that is harmful to the general public?

 

[mtnskater]

I don’t think any country has the right to “protect” its citizens from the truth. Putin is not trying to protect his country. His sole goal is to protect himself and his regime’s iron grip on his power.

 

[irenemulindwairen]

The RSF has deliberately scheduled this cheesefest at the same time as Worlds to get attention, and to make a point. Which is that they’re going to do what they want … regardless of the larger interests of the sport or anyone else in it. It’s an FU to the ISU and the other feds. And that sounds … kind of like Putin in Ukraine, doesn’t it? taking over a country because he wants to, and screw everyone else and what they want. Coincidental? I think not.

Everyone can make their own choice, but I’ve got no interest in supporting either of the key groups that would benefit from me watching this cheesefest.

It’s unfortunate, but Russian athletes are competing for a federation and a leader that, it’s becoming evident, are willing to do just about anything to advance their own interests (perhaps preferably at the expense of everyone else’s).

FEAR is the word. DO AS WE SAY OR ELSE YOU ARE DEEMED A TRAITOR. I think the athletes are not happy with what is going on but they have no choice.
Stupid and useless Zhulin is amongst those saying, "any athlete chosing to skate for another country is a traitor".

 

[Bigbird]

FEAR is the word. DO AS WE SAY OR ELSE YOU ARE DEEMED A TRAITOR. I think the athletes are not happy with what is going on but they have no choice.
Stupid and useless Zhulin is amongst those saying, "any athlete chosing to skate for another country is a traitor".

IMHO, it's a survival strategy. It's how many have been socialized to think. Your very survival in sport is considered "war". Probably some of the younger ones seeing things for themselves will cultivate a different world view. Old man Zhulin is set in his ways.

 

[olympic]

Question - Do foreign fans watching RUS FS events on You Tube or some other platform in any way profit RUS as a nation? IOW, does money flow to the RUS government? How is that set up? If so, then no, we should not watch. If the money does not flow into the state's coffers, then I don't have a problem w/ people watching any RUS event. However, I don't care to watch it. This is about something bigger than a skating event.

BTW, if foreign skating federations wanted to punish the US after the pre-emptive Iraqi invasion in 2003, I don't think I would have had a problem with that either. There may not have been a big push to punish the US because maybe the world saw the US as a victim after 9/11 (only a hunch), unlike RUS in 2022. Also, we had bigger allies that supported the US decision (debate the right and wrong about that. I was against it FTR), again unlike RUS now. The fact we were the world's #1 economy played into all those thought processes, too .... Right or wrong. It presents a different assessment

 

[clairecloutier]

@olympic Events that have been live-streamed from Russia in the past usually open with a note that the stream is being provided by a Russian channel that is owned by the Russian government in part or in full. I forget the exact terminology but it’s almost always there. in my recollection.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Honestly, yes, Telegram is. It's very clear that the reason Putin is shutting down access to IG is in retaliation to Meta's decision to allow posts suggesting or advocating violence against Russia, Russians, and Putin on their platforms.

That's a strange way to say fight back during wartime against an invading force slaughtering Ukrainian citizens but OK. Also that might be Hannity's latest spin (not sure) but not the reason which is to stop the actual truth and horror about what is happening from being accessible to Russian people.

 

[once_upon]

Russian skaters (for the most part - Zhulin is an exception) and Ukrainians are victims of war.

Yes, Russian skaters lost their livelihood and dreams. Ukrainians are losing their livelihood, their dreams, their homes, their family and their lives.

Companies and streaming services are private entities. They can choose what services/platforms to sell you. It is not a new concept. My cable or satellite company can stronghold another entity to pay broadcasting rights. I'm sure, at least in the US, you've seen these - like call your service provider and tell them to continue to give you access x network.

People like capitalism until it restricts something they want.

This belongs in PI.

I am sad that skaters have become victims of a war they didn't start.

 

[rfisher]

Question - Do foreign fans watching RUS FS events on You Tube or some other platform in any way profit RUS as a nation? IOW, does money flow to the RUS government? How is that set up? If so, then no, we should not watch. If the money does not flow into the state's coffers, then I don't have a problem w/ people watching any RUS event. However, I don't care to watch it. This is about something bigger than a skating event.

BTW, if foreign skating federations wanted to punish the US after the pre-emptive Iraqi invasion in 2003, I don't think I would have had a problem with that either. There may not have been a big push to punish the US because maybe the world saw the US as a victim after 9/11 (only a hunch), unlike RUS in 2022. Also, we had bigger allies that supported the US decision (debate the right and wrong about that. I was against it FTR), again unlike RUS now. The fact we were the world's #1 economy played into all those thought processes, too .... Right or wrong. It presents a different assessment

The YouTube streams were free. There were no subscription costs to international viewers. Channel 1 uploaded them with support from the government. This included all the Russian cup series, Russian nationals (junior and senior) and any fluff events. Alternatively, you could watch with a VPN from the Channel 1 web page.

 

[ostile17]

Team Tutzberidze’s official Instagram account has announced April dates for their “Champions on Ice” tour in 6 cities (Minsk BLR, Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Samara, Nizhny Novgorod, Tashkent UZB): https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca9zvSXtw-z/

Skaters listed at the bottom of the publicity photo: Shcherbakova, Trusova, Tarasova/Morozov, Zagitova, Medvedeva, Valieva, Davis/Smolkin

It looks like Davis/Smolkin won't be taking part in the show this year and are rumored to be in the US.

teamdavismolkin

⚡Диана с Глебом не смогут принять участие в шоу Этери Тутберидзе в этом году💔

t.me

https://twitter.com/fs247ru/status/1502674768134238210

 

[barbarafan]

Welcome to terrorgram everyone. I guess it's good that Ukrainians have been able to use it to communicate but up until recently it's mostly been home to nazi terror cells.

I have no idea how to get on the alternate platform. SSSoooooooo old

 

[Sylvia]

It looks like Davis/Smolkin won't be taking part in the show this year and are rumored to be in the US.

Davis/Smolkin posted this ‘welcome back to the rink’ group photo in Novi, Michigan on Feb. 19: https://www.instagram.com/p/CaKr8ufuO66/

 

[Sylvia]

Liza Khudaiberdieva’s post today expressing disappointment that she and Egor Bazin will not be participating in the Channel One Cup ”due to a lack of an equivalent dance couple”: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAB6S3uaoN/

 

[Bigbird]

Liza Khudaiberdieva’s post today expressing disappointment that she and Egor Bazin will not be participating in the Channel One Cup ”due to a lack of an equivalent dance couple”: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAB6S3uaoN/

What does that even mean?

 

[Cherub721]

What does that even mean?

They need to have an even number of teams, so if someone dropped out and they couldn't/didn't get a replacement, they have to drop them. Several couples below them at Nationals split up, Z&G are not in Russia, and they can't have the National bronze medalists against the 9th place team or something because that would be too lopsided for a team event.

 

[Bigbird]

They need to have an even number of teams, so if someone dropped out and they couldn't/didn't get a replacement, they have to drop them. Several couples below them at Nationals split up, Z&G are not in Russia, and they can't have the National bronze medalists against the 9th place team or something because that would be too lopsided for a team event.

Okaaayyyy. Who are the teams that broke up other than M/B?

 

[Amy L]

Okaaayyyy. Who are the teams that broke up other than M/B?

I think the correct question might be "who hasn't broken up", because the broken up couples I can think of off the top of my head are Shanaeva/Naryzhny, Shevchenko/Eremenko, Ushakova/Nekrasov, Skoptsova/Aleshin...

 

[AYS]

If Russians are moving over to Telegram to stay in communication with the rest of the world, it's only a matter of time before Putin also bans Telegram.

 

[Bigbird]

I think the correct question might be "who hasn't broken up", because the broken up couples I can think of off the top of my head are Shanaeva/Naryzhny, Shevchenko/Eremenko, Ushakova/Nekrasov, Skoptsova/Aleshin...

Are you kidding me?

 

[angi]

I think the correct question might be "who hasn't broken up", because the broken up couples I can think of off the top of my head are Shanaeva/Naryzhny, Shevchenko/Eremenko, Ushakova/Nekrasov, Skoptsova/Aleshin...

Where was it announced about these two team splitting? I know about Motozov/Bagin and Shanaeva/Naryzhnyv, and there have been rumors about Shevchenko/Eremenko since January, but I haven't heard anything bout the other two.

 

[Bigbird]

Are you kidding me?

On second thought it looks like Russian ice dance is an exclusive club. If you don't have a certain exterior plus a decent foundation, it's game up. Then added to it the current situation I'm not so surprised.

 

[skatingguy]

If Russians are moving over to Telegram to stay in communication with the rest of the world, it's only a matter of time before Putin also bans Telegram.

Telegram can't be blocked, at least to date, because we don't know where the servers are. The founders, who also founded VK, have intentionally hidden the information to protect the service from government censorship.

 

[Spikefan]

There was a Zamboni story on CBS Saturday today with a surprise Ilia Kulik cameo.

A look into the history of the Zamboni machine

It does not go fast, but it gets the attention of everyone who is near one. The Zamboni machine has countless imitators, but the original brand is still goin...

youtu.be

 

[Karen-W]

That's a strange way to say fight back during wartime against an invading force slaughtering Ukrainian citizens but OK. Also that might be Hannity's latest spin (not sure) but not the reason which is to stop the actual truth and horror about what is happening from being accessible to Russian people.

No idea what Hannity's spin on anything is. I rarely watch him. (And I haven't paid much attention to Carlson the past couple evenings - other stuff to do.)

I'd definitely agree that blocking FB and Twitter is about trying to limit access to the truth/real news. But Putin hasn't, until now, blocked IG, and he still hasn't blocked TikTok, so I don't think you can state, unequivocally, that this latest move is being made for the same purpose. It's my own hypothesis, that the IG block is related to Meta's hypocritical decision to violate its own "Community Standards" in support of Ukraine. But, it could be, just as easily, about blocking the truth/platforms that don't allow Putin's bots to proliferate his propaganda. I saw a news blurb yesterday about the WH meeting with 30 of TikTok's top influencers, giving them talking points on how to promote support for Ukraine and the administration's position on related issues, and in the same report it was mentioned that the Kremlin had done the same thing. So, at this point, TikTok isn't, as a platform, choosing a side - which could be why Putin hasn't blocked it yet (plus, it's owned by China, lol).

If Russians are moving over to Telegram to stay in communication with the rest of the world, it's only a matter of time before Putin also bans Telegram.

He's tried and failed. I'm sure he'll keep trying but he hasn't succeeded yet.

It looks like Davis/Smolkin won't be taking part in the show this year and are rumored to be in the US.

teamdavismolkin

⚡Диана с Глебом не смогут принять участие в шоу Этери Тутберидзе в этом году💔

t.me

https://twitter.com/fs247ru/status/1502674768134238210

Yes, they posted the same on their IG. I'm guessing they won't be in Eteri's tour either. They're not taking any chances on not being able to get back to Michigan from Russia, I'm sure.

Where was it announced about these two team splitting? I know about Motozov/Bagin and Shanaeva/Naryzhnyv, and there have been rumors about Shevchenko/Eremenko since January, but I haven't heard anything bout the other two.

There was a mention in one of the SS threads earlier this week about UshaNek breaking up, and I want to say that SkopAle has been known since right after RusNats, but I could be wrong.

 

[Frau Muller]

There’s a good Russian-language news alternative on YouTube- Mir 24 or мир 24 . They air brief updates, as well as have a live loop. Sample short update:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

m.youtube.com

It seems to originate from Kazakhstan, so isn’t Russian funded, thus not restricted.

There’s also a Russian-lang version of Euro News.

https://m.youtube.com/EuronewsRussia

The Russian language per se has not yet been eliminated.

 

[Amy L]

There was a mention in one of the SS threads earlier this week about UshaNek breaking up, and I want to say that SkopAle has been known since right after RusNats, but I could be wrong.

That's my recollection as well. The U/N news is fairly new, but the S/A announcement happened a while ago. I think they both retired instead of making any effort to look for new partners.

 

[AxelAnnie]

This is why I stay out of politics threads- but that's my country too. And I was out in the streets protesting during the ramp up and eventual invasion of Iraq. I've been thrown off curbs backwards by riot police by protesting against US action and policies. And I would have been FINE with other countries shutting down any major propaganda machine being used to justify promote the invasion. But these are not the same situation right this minute, so give me a break on the fake progressive stance here when there's no good excuse to support what your whataboutism is trying to support. Argue the merits of your entertainment desires trumping atrocities, don't hide behind the "this is bad too" to excuse them.

Continue to stay of threads that don't work for you.

Legally, that is true. But that doesn't mean that stifling free speech is a good thing. It depends on where the line is drawn. I'm not sure where this conversation started, but I don't think YouTube, for example, should be censoring pro-Russian content. There is plenty of opportunity on YouTube for people to post opposing content or to rebut propaganda in the comments. I actually like to read or hear about opposing views. Know your enemy, as they say.

Their country their rules. There are lots of news outlets...lots of different views. And Ari Sharom says keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

YouTube is probably not the best source of information.

Of course you could set up a website screen members and become a place for pros and cons.

And if you alternate CNN with Fox news...you would definitely get both sides...and a headache.

 

[overedge]

Oh, the irony of arguing that Telegram is such an upstanding example of free speech, when it hosts terrorists users whose sole reason for being there is to overthrow governments who say things they don't like.

 

[bladesofgorey]

Continue to stay of threads that don't work for you.

Um ok I will? Is this some kind of gotcha?

 

[AxelAnnie]

Um ok I will? Is this some kind of gotcha?

Nope. Just a thought. Life is short. Enjoy