On Thursday 24th February 2022, President Putin of Russia ordered the invasion of Ukraine. This came just days after his Government assured that they would not do so (https://www.newsweek.com/uk-defense-official-says-russia-assures-they-will-not-invade-ukraine-1678454?amp=1

The invasion has already led to loss of life, injuries, damage to property, and global economic and political instability.

Mr Putin is also a judo black belt (8th Dan) - something he repeatedly flaunts to underpin his macho branding and boost his popularity.

We the international judo community emphatically reject the violence mr Putin has espoused and no longer consider him to be one of our own. He misrepresents the sport in a dangerous way, damaging its reputation and global standing. We call for the International Judo Federation and Kodokan to immediately strip him of his judo grade and the Honorary Presidency of the IJF - acknowledging that he has broken judo’s Moral Code (https://www.ijf.org/moralcode and is unfit to hold the senior rank that he does.