Ritsoudis: I really appreciate Novak Djokovic's praise; I am grateful

The former Greek officer Marinos Ritsoudis, whom the world's best tennis player Novak Djokovic thanked via Instagram for refusing to participate in the NATO aggression against the former Yugoslavia in 1999, responded today to the Serbian tennis ace.

Ritsoudis, who announced himself through social networks on March 24 on the occasion of the anniversary of the NATO bombing, briefly said for Kosovo Online regarding Novak Djokovic's message the following.

"I really appreciate it. I am very grateful to him," adding that he regularly followed Novak Djokovic's tennis matches.

The Greek officer refused to participate in the bombing of Yugoslavia, which is why he ended up before a military court in Greece and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. His sentence was overturned due to pressure from the Greek public, but he was still dismissed from office.

In 2018, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church awarded him the Order of Saint Emperor Constantine, because of his sacrificial love for the fraternal Serbs, refusing to participate in the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999.

"I never dreamed that I would receive this, recognition from the entire nation of Orthodox tradition and brave past. Serbia is not only people and buildings but also saints, kings, holy monasteries, the flag, battles without any chance, brave soldiers who died during the battles, culture, literature, and everything in their civilization," Ritsoudis wrote five years ago after receiving the award on his Facebook profile, adding that he felt blessed and grateful for this recognition.

"This is called true blood brotherhood that has not been eroded by time. This is something called eternity," he wrote.