A powerlifter from Ukraine, Ivan Chuprinko, defiantly refused to shake hands with an athlete from Iran at the World Bench Press Championship in South Africa. The Iranian attempted to shake Chuprinko’s hand on two separate occasions within a 10-second period but was refused both times. The video has gone viral on social media with potential reasons for this encounter quickly circulating. Many people pointed out the obvious which is the fact that Iran and Russia are allies and Iran may have supplied Russia with weapons. This is a problem because Russia is currently invading Ukraine. The problem is that the other medal winner was from South Africa.
BRICS nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This is a consortium of countries that are attempting to develop one currency for trade in order to circumvent the control of the West, including allies of Ukraine. Furthermore, South Africa says they will offer Russia immunity and refuse to arrest Vladimir Putin for the BRICS conference in South Africa. The athlete from Ukraine had no problem shaking the South African man’s hand. This action just further reinforces the stereotype of racist Ukrainians who align themselves with the Nazi “AZOV” regime in the Donbas region.
