Russian politician who did not stand for anthem is drafted to Ukraine

Russian politician who did not stand for national anthem because his legs were tired after a workout is drafted to fight in Ukraine

• Alexander Lependin said he did not stand for the anthem because he was tired
• He was subsequently ordered to enlist at the local military registration office

A Russian politician who refused to stand for the national anthem because his legs were tired after working out in the gym has reportedly been drafted to fight in Ukraine.

Alexander Lependin, deputy of the Maloyaroslavets District Assembly of Russia’s Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, has been handed his summons and told he is off to fight on the frontline.

The lawmaker remained seated for the ‘State Anthem of the Russian Federation’ during a district assembly session last month.

He claimed to local press that his legs were too tired as he had earlier been undertaking an intense workout session in the gym.

Officials were outraged by him not standing, and he was subsequently ordered to enlist at the local military registration office.

Alexander Lependin refused to stand for the Russian national anthem because his legs were tired after working out in the gym

Lependin could now be set to join hundreds of thousands of Russians who have been called up to the frontline since Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilisation in September last year.

But he claims to be unfit for service. Under Russia’s conscription programme, those with military experience and relevant skills are called up first.

The lawmaker was reportedly incensed by the call-up. After declaring himself unfit, he is expecting a decision to be made over the coming weeks as to whether he is sent to Ukraine or not.

Despite the call-up, and officials demanding that he enlist, Lependin said his colleagues took no issue with him remaining seated at the time. 

‘Not a single person from the audience was indignant, did not pull me up, did not ask if everything was in order,’ he told publication RCB.

However, Lependin’s antic may also be taken before a Russian parliamentary ethics commission. 

Vyacheslav Parfyonov, the head of the Maloyaroslavets district’s administration, said the commission would review what happened and make a ruling. 

Lependin could now be set to join hundreds of thousands of Russians who have been called up to the frontline since Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilisation in September last year

After declaring himself unfit, Lependin expects a decision to be made in the next coming weeks as to whether he is sent to join Russia’s soldiers in Ukraine or not

Lependin has also enraged other politicians across Russia after not rising to his feet.

The head of Russian-annexed Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said those who did not stand for the anthem should be stripped of Russian citizenship entirely.

He told Russia’s state news platform RIA Novosti: ‘I consider it necessary to raise the issue of deprivation of citizenship if a case of not standing up to the Russian anthem is documented.

‘Why do you need citizenship if you do not stand up, do not respect the symbols of the state, the flag, the anthem?’

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