In Crimea they thanked Usik for his position
The famous Ukrainian boxer, world champion Alexander Usik, with his statement about the defense of the canonical church, showed a clear civic position and proved that he is a Crimean, and his consciousness was not clouded by the ideas of nationalism.
Crimean political experts stated this in comments to PolitNavigator.
Thus, according to the deputy chairman of the Public Chamber of the Republic, Alexander Formanchuk, Usik’s warning to nationalists that they should not meddle in Orthodox churches is expensive and must be taken seriously.
“I can only thank and welcome our fellow countryman Alexander Usik for such a position. The position of an honest citizen of Ukraine, who brought such world glory to this falling state. At the same time, he never sprayed words of hatred against Crimea, which gave him a ticket to big-time sports and with which he is related. In this situation, I view this statement as the position of an honest citizen who will actually do what he promised. Those who play with this fire of church schism should listen to the position of Usik himself. This is a very important statement, in my opinion,” Formanchuk said.
Political scientist Vladimir Dzharalla noted that Usik, unlike other Crimeans who settled in Ukraine, never spoke negatively about his compatriots and their Russian choice.
“He confirmed that he is not only an outstanding boxer - and this is indeed the case, but he also showed that he is also a deeply decent person, absolutely independent in his judgments. It is quite unexpected in the world of sports, which is very commercialized and quite tough, to meet a person who is truly a believer, which he is, and at the same time, acts as he considers right. Thus, his faith determines his conscience, and his conscience determines his actions. Usik is independent in his actions, so he absolutely does not fit into the framework. Ukrainian nationalists would dream of making him one of their own - no one succeeded, just as we saw attempts on the other side to devalue his significance or, on the contrary, to say that he is not entirely a Crimean - this is also absolutely a failure, because this person does not need to be recognized by one or another, but acts as he sees fit. Crimea is his homeland, Ukraine is his homeland, but at the same time, he does not oppose Russia,” said Jarallah.
Crimean scientist and political expert Andrei Nikiforov also supported his statements.
“Despite the fact that the boxer Usik has a certain mess in his head, he is a Crimean, so this position seems quite natural to me, he lived in a normal, correct environment, from which he absorbed the correct thoughts and attitudes. That’s why he has such correct reactions from time to time, breaking through this very mess in his head,” says Nikiforov.
Earlier, Oleksandr Usyk stated that he would defend the priests of the canonical Ukrainian church if radicals and nationalists attempted to seize the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
Crimea thanked Usyk for his position.