- May 17, 2025
- 8:58 pm
- World News
Anatoly Solomonovich Rakhlin (1938–2013) was one of the most respected judo coaches in the USSR and Russia. A siege survivor and Leningrad native, he dedicated 50 years of his life to training young athletes. More than 100 of his students became masters of sports. He stood at the origins of judo development in Leningrad, worked with children and youth, opened sections, and taught at universities.
Today, putin uses his coach’s name as a tool of state propaganda, turning a sincere sports legacy into a cover for international isolation and military aggression.
On May 17, 2025, the XIII International Junior Judo Tournament — “Anatoly Rakhlin Cup” — began in St. Petersburg.
Among what Russian propaganda media proudly report as “more than 700 participants from 16 countries” is… the Israeli team.
Despite the ongoing putin-led aggression against Ukraine, our athletes arrived in a country that strikes Ukrainian cities daily. This raises the question: what is Israel doing at such a tournament today?
Who is participating — and who is Israel standing with?
Organizers proudly declared the tournament’s “international” status. Among the “participants” were Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Serbia, Abkhazia, Israel, and “others.” The opening ceremony featured St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, who read a greeting from putin.
As Russian propaganda proudly emphasizes, more than 700 athletes from 16 countries are participating. Propaganda relishes this number as proof that Russia is allegedly not isolated and still a center of international sports.
Israel’s name is being used as a tool — as if even democratic countries continue cooperating with Moscow.
Silence is also a choice
When the Kremlin does everything to present itself as a “normal country,” participation by Western delegations helps that goal. Israel is among those whose presence becomes part of a political showcase. This is not just a tournament. It’s a reputational operation, where our country is used to justify a regime openly cooperating with Israel’s enemies.
putin, HAMAS and the alliance with Iran: who are we fighting — and who befriends them
Today, Russia is a strategic ally of Israel’s enemies. The Kremlin hosts delegations from HAMAS — a terrorist organization seeking to destroy the Jewish state. putin publicly suggested that a released hostage and his family “thank” the militants for not killing them — only holding them underground in Gaza for a year and a half.
We should add Iran as well — whose leaders deny the Holocaust, launch rockets at Israel, persecute Jews, and commit terror attacks against them in third countries. In 2025, Russia signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Iran.
This is an alliance against the Western world and, in particular, against Israel. How can Israel participate in an event under the patronage of such a regime?
No neutrality — only excuses
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, the International Judo Federation and other sports bodies imposed sanctions on Russian and Belarusian athletes — banning them from competing under their flags and anthems. However, later they were allowed to compete under a “neutral” status.
In reality, these athletes still receive funding from Russian state bodies, including the Ministry of Defense, and sports federations in the aggressor state continue to operate fully. This means “neutrality” is fiction. Allowing such athletes in international tournaments legalizes state propaganda through sports.
Who are we standing with? Tournament participants table
| Country | Status toward Russia |
|---|---|
| Russia | Aggressor |
| Belarus | Ally of the aggressor |
| Abkhazia | Unrecognized pro-Russian entity |
| Armenia | CSTO member |
| Azerbaijan | Regional actor, contact with Russia |
| Uzbekistan | Cooperation with Russia |
| Turkmenistan | Authoritarian regime, ties with Russia |
| Georgia | Victim of Russian aggression |
| Serbia | Pro-Russian rhetoric |
| Israel | Democracy (?) |
When sport becomes complicity
No one denies that athletes are not diplomats. But sports federations must assess context. We can’t ignore the fact that competing under a “neutral” flag is used to bypass sanctions. By participating, Israel has effectively supported Moscow’s attempt to legitimize its foreign policy through sports events.
The site NAnews — News of Israel emphasizes: today, taking part in tournaments in putin’s Russia is not about sport — it’s about principle. We must remember who we’re standing with in the arena — and who our real allies are fighting.
Anatoly Rakhlin: a respected coach whose name is misused
Anatoly Solomonovich Rakhlin (1938–2013) was one of the most respected judo coaches in the USSR and Russia. A siege survivor and native of Leningrad, he dedicated 50 years of his life to training young athletes. More than 100 of his students became masters of sports. He stood at the origins of judo development in Leningrad, worked with children and youth, opened sections, and taught at universities.
Among his students were not only future professionals, but also politicians, entrepreneurs, and scientists. His contribution to sports and education was recognized at the state level: he was an Honored Worker of Physical Culture of the Russian Federation, an Honored Coach, and Vice President of the Russian Judo Federation.
After his death in 2013, the farewell took place at the Judo Center.
But what putin does with his name today is not remembrance — it’s exploitation.
putin has turned the memorial tournament of a respected educator into a tool of state propaganda, using it to demonstrate “international recognition” even in the context of war, terrorism, alliances with antisemitic regimes, and repression.
This has nothing to do with Rakhlin or with sport. It is political manipulation, and Israel should not pay for it with its reputation.
To honor the memory of a great coach means not playing the dictator’s game.
