Svetlana Ishmuratova, a 54-year-old two-time Olympic champion in biathlon, recently voiced her concerns about the state of Moscow. The former athlete believes that significant changes are needed in the Russian capital, particularly regarding the availability of green spaces.

Ishmuratova, born on April 20, 1972, in Zlatoust, Chelyabinsk Oblast, achieved her most notable success at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, where she won two gold medals. Her first gold was in the individual 15-kilometer race, and the second in the women's relay for Russia. Throughout her career, she also excelled in the Biathlon World Cup.

After retiring from active competition, Ishmuratova has been involved in public and political life. Her recent critique of Moscow focuses on the city’s urban development, which she argues lacks sufficient green areas and parks. She noted that newer districts in the Russian capital are predominantly made up of concrete and asphalt, with very few green corners.

“The main problem in Moscow is the diminishing number of parks. I want more greenery, the lungs of Moscow. If you look at the new micro-districts, everything is concrete and asphalt, and there are very few green corners,” Ishmuratova said, according to sports.ru.

Ishmuratova emphasized the importance of adding trees and greenery to the city, even acknowledging that every centimeter in Moscow carries great value. However, she stressed the necessity of integrating more natural elements into the urban landscape.