Novak Djokovic’s dad and the pro-Putin ‘Night Wolves’

Novak Djokovic is embroiled in a new controversy at the Australian Open after images emerged of his father posing with fans brandishing pro-Russian flags.

Srdjan Djokovic “has managed to steal the limelight from his son’s game” by being pictured with the “notorious” Night Wolves motorcycle gang, which is “known for its public support of Russian president Vladimir Putin”, said The Firstpost.

The episode threatens to overshadow the Serbian tennis star’s run to the final of a grand slam tournament he was prevented from appearing in just 12 months ago due to his Covid vaccination status.

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A ‘disgrace’

Djokovic senior was pictured with a man who was holding a Russian flag carrying Putin’s face, and wearing a T-shirt printed with the pro-war Z symbol.

Formed during the 1980s, the Night Wolves is Russia’s “largest and most infamous motorcycle club”, said The Guardian in 2016. Putin has previously described the members of the gang as his “friends” and has been pictured with the group on several occasions.

The gang, also known as Putin’s Angels, has been targeted by US and Canadian sanctions for its support of the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, which some of its members fought in.

Describing the reported Djokovic connection with the gang as a “disgrace”, Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia urged tennis officials to ban Djokovic senior from the Australian Open. Vasyl Myroshnychenko also insisted that the tennis champion himself should “apologise for what has happened, and condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine”.

‘Undying resentment’

However, there is a “sense of brotherhood that continues to unite many from those two countries in support of the war in Ukraine”, wrote William Nattrass for The Spectator.

Moscow is seen by many Serbs as “a truer ally than the West will ever be”, he added, “due in large part to Russia’s support for Serbia’s claims on Kosovo and Serbs’ undying resentment against western intervention during the Balkan wars in the 1990s”.

In Belgrade, media coverage of the Melbourne incident argues that Western offence is an attempt to distract Djokovic, who has also come under fire for his stance on vaccines, as he pursues another grand slam title.

Sportal, a popular Serbian tabloid, called the fallout a “new attack on Novak”, arguing that “instead of talking about Novak’s perfect slam so far, media in Australia and Europe are unfortunately writing about the ‘scandal’ and calling on the Australian Open to react”.

In a statement released by the tennis player’s representatives, Djokovic senior said he had “no intention” of being caught up in politics, noted Sky News. “I am here to support my son only,” he said. “I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruption.”

Srdjan was outspoken last year when his son was prevented from playing in the Australian Open and deported for not having had a Covid vaccine. He accused Australia of trying to “assassinate” his son, said the Daily Mail.

However, said The Telegraph, “this latest PR disaster may be one that Srdjan struggles to talk his way out of”. Djokovic junior has yet to comment on the episode.