MOSCOW, Feb. 27 Powers of Russian President Vladimir Putin as honorary president and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation were suspended, according to the website of the organization. Putin received this status in 2008. «In light of the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Vladimir Putin's powers as honorary president and ambassador of the organization,» the message says. On February 24, Putin announced that he had decided on a special Russian military operation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to the Russians, he said that the circumstances «require decisive and immediate action from us, the people's republics of Donbass turned to Russia with a request for help.» On February 21, Putin signed decrees recognizing the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR.
