‘Inexcusable’: Outrage over Novak Djokovic photo with infamous figure
Novak Djokovic has caused uproar after he was pictured with an extremely controversial former military leader during a trip to Bosnia.
The World No.1 has been taking time off after a gruelling US Open campaign, which saw him lose to Daniil Medvedev in the final.
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A tough 2021 season and the expectation of creating history took its toll on Djokovic as he broke down following his match.
Since his campaign in New York, Djokovic has taken time off from the ATP Tour.
But, Djokovic has caused international outrage after photos of him with former commander Milan Jolovic, nicknamed 'The Legend', made their way on social media.
Jolovic is the former commander of the paramilitary unit the Drina Wolves.
Many claim Jolovic saved the life of former war criminal Ratko Mladic, earning him the nickname.
In 2017, Mladic was convicted of war crimes and genocide for his time as a commander in the Bosnia war during the 1990s.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Drina Wolves were part of the Republika Srpska, according to Al Jazeera, and were later deemed to have committed genocide towards Bosniaks by international courts.
Jolovic has never been convicted of a war crime.
However this week, local media posted a photo of Djokovic having tea with the former commander.
The move sparked international outrage.
Political scientist Jasmin Mujanovic questioned how many sponsors Djokovic would lose as a result of the photo with Jolovic.
The world’s No. 1 men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic spent the last few days hanging out w/ a former underling of convicted genocidaire Ratko Mladic, & contemporary genocide denier & secessionist Milorad Dodik. Let’s see how many sponsorships “Nole” loses as a result. pic.twitter.com/lnVhMMwV3U
— Jasmin Mujanović (@JasminMuj) September 19, 2021
Should have retweeted this earlier, but this is ridiculous and either a stunning disregard for human atrocity or a lack of care for suffering (assuming Djokovic knows, and considering his CV of careless actions I’m sort of inclined to think he doesn’t). Inexcusable regardless https://t.co/fNKykOTb3r
— Owen! (@tennisnation) September 23, 2021
no moral compass at all https://t.co/axPxrzyZ2r
— strawdarvey (@strawdarvey) September 22, 2021
are you kidding me???? this is horrific and inexcusable https://t.co/rkTKCJkfao pic.twitter.com/W6IHs5im1n
— nareh 🍂 (@roddickrambling) September 22, 2021
words fail what a monstrous violence this smiling endorsement is https://t.co/01DVM07cd3
— ⛈😓🌧 (@glittersquirrel) September 22, 2021
Djokovic was also recently pictured with Serbian politician Milorad Dodik at a wedding.
Milorad Dodik has been a denier of the scale and nature of the Srebrenica genocide.
Djokovic has not responded to the furore.
Novak Djokovic taking time off after US Open campaign
Djokovic fell short of creating history at the US Open after missing out on winning a career grand slam, the last male player to achieve this was Rod Laver, and delayed his quest for a record 21 major titles.
While Djokovic was entered into Indian Wells, he admitted after his taxing US Open campaign that he had no plans.
"Let me tell you, I have no plan. Absolutely nothing" he told reporters after his US Open loss.
"I don’t know if I’m going to play anything, anywhere… I’m just here in New York right now.”
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