A Russian mountaineer protests the war from the roof of the world
Nepal has refused to recognize a Russian climber’s ascent of Everest after she unfurled the Ukrainian flag from the summit. Katya Lipka is also photographed with a “Freedom for Navalny” flag. The two events caused feverish activity in the Himalayan country’s government and parliament, Everest Chronicle and Outside reported.
Katya Lipka reached the highest peak on the planet on May 24 and became world news after she unfurled the Ukrainian flag and posted the photo on Instagram with a long post against the invasion of her homeland in Ukraine.
Nepalese authorities have now said they are removing her from the official summit register because Lipka did not seek prior approval from local authorities to fly the Ukrainian flag. She did not have permission for “Svoboda za Navalny” either.
A spokesman for the Nepalese Ministry of Tourism explains to “Outside” that they find these actions a “political provocation”. We cannot tolerate such actions, says Surya Prasad Upadaya, director of the service that certifies Everest climbs.
Nepal requires every climber to announce in advance what they plan to bring to the summit. Climbers are, of course, allowed to fly flags from Everest, but they must state what type and size the flag is, Upadaya explains. The goal is not to turn Everest into a place for political debates, he added. “This is an extremely sensitive geopolitical issue,” the official said.
Lipka’s action caused a sensation in the Nepalese parliament, where it first caused outrage from deputies of the Communist Party. “The government should not turn our country into an arena for foreigners to play games. We are far above the greed for power,” says MP Gokul Prasad Baskota. Another MP defined the allowed protest as a “shameful example of the government’s misguided foreign policy”.
Lipka is not the only one left without a certificate this year. The Nepalese authorities did not give a document and a Mexican climber playing an electric piano at the top. And he neglected to ask permission to lift the instrument that far.
–
