Australian Open spectators supporting Russian invasion questioned by police

Multiple Australian Open spectators have been questioned by Victoria police after they unveiled flags in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and then threatened security guards following the Australian Open men’s quarter-final match between Andrey Rublev of Russia and Novak Djokovic. As some began to leave, a small group of people stood on steps underneath Rod Laver Arena and unfurled Russian flags, including one Russian flag with a large picture of Vladimir Putin’s face, while chanting in support of Russia. During the first round match between Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindl and Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova on 16 January, spectators displayed a Russian flag in the crowd. At the beginning of the tournament, spectators had been allowed to bring all flags in, but after the incident organisers reversed the decision and banned all Russian flags, Russian imperial flags and items with the symbol ‘Z’. At some of the entrances of the grounds, security guards have been provided with pamphlets with a growing list of various prohibited Russian flags.
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