State Duma deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) Dmitry Svishchev told the publication "Abzats" that he intends to send a request to law enforcement agencies regarding the statements made by former Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder and Olympic champion with the Brazilian national team in Tokyo, Claudinho, about military actions in Ukraine.
Claudinho, who received a Russian passport on an expedited basis in 2023, moved to Qatar in the winter of 2025, where he joined the club Al-Sadd. In a recent interview with Flashscore, the Brazilian noted that since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, he had wanted to leave the Russian club and did not support the military actions. "With the start of the war, the atmosphere changed. I had friends in Ukraine, I was very worried, and it began to weigh on me. There were offers from Brazil, but Zenit did not let me go, citing my importance to the team. Interest in the Russian league was already low before the conflict, and after—the situation worsened," the footballer explained.
In response, Svishchev emphasized that in Russia, criticism of the special military operation is considered a criminal offense, for which a citizen, including a footballer, can receive a prison sentence. The deputy also expressed the opinion that, upon accepting citizenship, a person should share the interests of the country, respect its culture, and make balanced decisions, rather than being guided solely by financial gain.