Sports Politika | Karim Zidan | Substack

How Azerbaijan exploits sports for political influence

As Azerbaijan continues to bask in the glory of its international sports events, its underlying motives remain clear.

Jun 6 •

How to piss off a Russian oligarch

In this week's Office Hours, Karim Zidan looks back at his coverage of Ziyavudin Magomedov, the Dagestani oligarch now languishing in Russian prison.

Jun 3 •

Djokovic brings Serbia-Kosovo tensions to French Open

The 22-time grand slam champion has been accused of stoking ethnic tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

Jun 1 •

Most Popular

How to piss off a Russian oligarch

Jun 3 • Karim Zidan

The Kadyrov Archives

Mar 29 • Karim Zidan

Are the death threats worth it?

May 20 • Karim Zidan

Russian neo-Nazi MMA fighter takes on Putin

May 30 • Karim Zidan

Kadyrov linked to boxing champion's disappearance

May 8 • Karim Zidan

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Russian neo-Nazi MMA fighter takes on Putin

The founder of the White Rex far-right MMA apparel brand is now leading an anti-Kremlin paramilitary group making incursions into Russia.

May 30 •

The Saturday Salon: May 27 edition

aka the "F*** Henry Kissinger" edition.

May 27 •

WWE's Propaganda Spectacle

As MBS reasserts the kingdom as a regional power, WWE continues to be paid handsomely to produce his propaganda shows.

May 25 •

Saudi Arabia's 2030 World Cup bid crumbles before kickoff

Egypt has withdrawn from the Saudi-led joint bid that also included Greece. Could geopolitical tensions have played a role?

May 22 •

Are the death threats worth it?

Have you ever heard the saying "You'll never forget your first"? Well, that adage holds true even when it comes to death threats.

May 20 •

Boxing finds home in Ukraine's underground

A boxing tournament featuring Ukraine’s Olympic team took place in a subway station in war-torn Kharkiv.

May 17 •

Middle Eastern women are reshaping weightlifting's gender landscape

Apart from raising the bar for their fellow competitors, Middle Eastern women are also taking steps to shift the gender balance in weightlifting.

May 15 •

The Saturday Salon: May 13 edition

Welcome back to our fortnightly cultural gathering. This week, we focus on the upcoming elections in Turkey.

May 13 •

India’s top wrestlers are grappling with a sexual abuse crisis

India's top wresters are protesting against rampant sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation. Their demonstration is threatening to become a…

May 11 •

Sports Politika

Sports Politika

At the intersection of sports and authoritarian politics.

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